BBC - Tuesday, 1 May, 2001, 11:15 GMT 12:15 UK

Nigerian footballer in 'slave ship' probe

Nigerian football star Jonathan Akpoborie has been suspended by his German club following allegations that he is involved in the slave trade.

Akpoborie, who plays for VfL Wolfsburg, owns a ship that transported children who appeared to be potential slaves.

The ship in question, the MV Etireno, was at the centre of an international search in April after the United Nations children's agency, Unicef, said it was carrying more than 100 children destined to be sold into slavery.

When the ship docked in Benin on 17 April the claim appeared to be exaggerated but an investigation revealed that at least a dozen of the 43 children and young adults removed from the vessel were destined to be slaves.

"It is confirmed that the adventure of the Etireno ship enters effectively in the category of a regional traffic in minors and a clandestine workers' network," a statement said.

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Akpoborie's side, VfL Wolfsburg, announced their decision to suspend him in the wake of the investigation.

"In order to support efforts to clear up the matter, the player Jonathan Akpoborie will be released indefinitely from his contractual obligations and thus be available with his time to clear up the accusations," a club statement said.

Akpoborie, 32, has denied allegations of any wrongdoing raised in the German media.

The investigation into the Etireno's passengers has revealed that five of the children reported that a financial transaction had taken place before their departure, while eight told officials they had travelled with adults they did not know.

The BBC's West Africa correspondent Mark Doyle says that, despite the original figures being wrong, the case did highlight the widespread trafficking of child labourers in West Africa.

Our correspondent says governments in the region are strongly opposed to child slavery but grinding poverty and insufficient police manpower to stop the human trade means it flourishes in many countries.

-- Anonymous, May 01, 2001