A sporting family siphoned off cash from their own charity set up to help African children, it can be reported.
Ex-rugby player Bright Sodje, 52, who played for rugby league clubs; the Wakefield Trinity (Wildcats), Hull Kingston Rovers, and the Sheffield Eagles in England as well as rugby union for Wakefield RFC, along with footballers Efe Sodje, 46, and Stephen Sodje, 43 were found guilty and jailed for the fraud in 2017.
The case can only be reported now following the conclusion of a separate trial involving former Reading and Nigeria footballer Sam Sodje, 39.
Former Bury and Macclesfield defender, Efe Sodje, and his brothers Stephen Sodje, and Bright Sodje, were found guilty and jailed for fraud in 2017, it can now be reported.
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Rugby player Bright Sodje, of Sale in Greater Manchester, was jailed for 21 months for receiving £3,000 from the charity and signing cheques to other family members totalling £18,000.
Stephen Sodje, of Bexley, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison for receiving £30,000 in charity funds.
Efe Sodje, of Cheadle in Greater Manchester, who was “the face” of the charity, was given 18 months in jail for receiving £7,500 from the SSF and an unknown amount from a clay pigeon shooting event.