Former Super Eagles’ defender, Sam Sodje, who was recently given reprieve from ac­cusations of match fixing by a court in England has thanked millions of Nige­rians, especially the jour­nalists, who stood by him during his ordeal.
Sodje, who once played in the English Premier League, got the reprieve, when the National Crime Agency (NCA) that had been investigating him and 12 others for allegations of match fixing were re­leased, following a judge’s comment in relation to the collapse of the Tulisa Contostavlos drugs trial.
Undercover reporter, Mazher Mahmood, also known as the ‘Fake Sheikh’s five-page article in Sunday Sun led to the prosecution of Sodje and others, Mahmood’s article also led to the Contostav­los drug trial.
In July 2014, Mahmood was suspended by his em­ployer, following a judge’s statement that Mahmood might have perjured himself.
Contostavlos’s case, that of Sodje and 29 others were dropped because of accusations of perjury against their accuser, Mah­mood.
Sodje, who spoke at the weekend, said he chose not to go into details about the matter but he thanked Nigerians and the reporters for their support.
“Our journalists have been wonderful, they stood by me, and did not con­demn me while the case was in court, I really ap­preciate them and I thank them for their support and kind words.

Match Fixing Saga: Sodje thanks journalists, Nigerians