The Udine Public Prosecutor Office says Nigeria international goalkeeper Maduka Okoye will face trial for his role in the conspiracy to defraud a bookmaker owing to irregular betting patterns in the game between Lazio and Udinese in the 2023-2024 Serie A season, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Already a notice of conclusion of preliminary investigations has been served to Okoye and the four people involved in the scandal in relation to the game played on the 11th of March 2024.
The investigation was conducted by the State Police, through the Central Unit of the Gaming and Betting Police of the Central Operational Service, the Mobile Squad of the Udine Police Headquarters and the Sisco of Trieste.
It was done in relation to the recording of unusual betting flows on the Lazio-Udinese match, particularly concentrated on the occurrence of a yellow card for Okoye, which was quoted by betting agencies at least 8 times the stake.
In particular, bets were recorded that led to winnings of more than €120,000, mostly from bets placed at fixed locations in the province of Udine.
According to investigators, there was a prior agreement between the Friuli goalkeeper, who was indeed cautioned for time wasting in the 63rd minute of the game, and one of the bettors under investigation, which then led to the increasing number of bets placed by two other bettors, who are also under investigation for complicity in the fraud.
Ade Emmanuel
