Father of the ex-slain Shooting Starts Sports Club (3SC), Ibadan, Joseph Izu, Pa Reuben Izu Martin has refuted a claim by the club that it has paid six months salary arrears of the deceased into his account.
Pa Reuben Izu Martin who made this declaration in a statement on Thursday noted that “The management of Shooting Stars football Club has paid the sum of N142,400 twice into my account and not six months as been claimed by the club”.
It will be recalled that late Joseph Izu, an indigene of Rivers State while holidaying was allegedly killed by some soldiers in Bayelsa state over a year ago.
Pa Reuben Izu while responding to a claim by 3SC management that it has paid the family for six months, noted that the need to put the record straight became necessary because it is the custom of the club to find a cosmetic solution to their request immediately after a public outcry like this .
He said ” I, Mr. Reuben izu Martin father to late Izu Joseph wish to let the public know that the management of Shooting Stars football Club has paid the sum of N142,400 twice into my account and not six months as been claimed by the club.
“This is the 2nd time they are doing it and it appears it is done immediately after a public outcry as regards the way they have treated my son, Joseph Izu’ finance since his death.
“I called Balogun the GM to explain that amount payed when he is been owed in millions, and Balogun sent a text that the money is made up of salaries, bonuses and others and promised to send the breakdown when he gets to Ibadan as he is taking care of his sick son, and up till now no information from him.
He noted that the family is not begging for money but is requesting for the money their departed son worked for before he was killed.
“We are not begging Shooting Stars for any kind of money, but for what my son worked for before he was killed.
He said what the family want is nothing but justice from the soldiers who killed their son and from the 3SC management.
“At this point, the family wants justice for Izu from the soldiers who killed him as well as Shooting Stars to pay his dues.
Pa Reuben Izu while making further clarification enjoined the 3SC management to stop blackmailing the family especially, a brother to the deceased, Mr. Reuben Izu Jnr simply because he was fighting for his late brother.
He said “I need to know why Shooting Stars is blackmailing my son simply because he is fighting for his late brother.
“My son, Reuben Izu Jnr. has never wanted his late brothers money to be paid to him, he is mandated by me on behalf of the family to ensure that 3SC pays salaries owed my son.
“I call on the oyo State government to investigate the club management as they have clearly shown unprofessionalism in handling my son Izu’ finance.
“I don’t know why its so difficult for 3SC to furnish the family with details of debt profile to late IZU Joseph.
“Instead of paying an amount without any narrative. I spoke with the COO of the LMC on this issue last week in Jos during the AGA of NFF. Responding to his question on the exact amount of late IZU Joseph salary, I told him that from the records we have in his contract with the LMC, is about 400, 000 monthly.
“He told me that the issue is that in most cases the amount in the contract with the LMC is different from the one they signed with the Clubs. The Union has also written to the LMC to compel 3SC to furnish them with details of the actual amount owed IZU in terms of outstanding salaries and match allowances .
“The club is yet to respond. The LMC has equally assured that monies due 3SC will not be paid to them until this issue and others are sorted out”.
