“I was so frightened I took laws into my hands” – Woman retracts statement accusing Nigerian footballer Victor Ebele of rape (video)

A Nigerian woman who alleged she was raped by Singapore-based Nigerian footballer, Victor Ebele, has retracted her statement. 

In 2025, Chioma Oniniwu took to X to allege that she was raped by Victor Ebele and claimed his family members, including his mother and sister, have been harassing her for seeking justice.

She also called out Victor Ebele’s more popular brother, Frank Ebele, who is also a professional footballer. She claims Frank was protecting his brother. 

She went on to claim that the police bullied her when she went to the station to report the incident. 
 

Chioma was arrested last week Wednesday,  August 26, charged to court, remanded, and has now been granted bail. 
 

Amid her legal ordeal, she returned to X to retract her statement and offer an apology. 
 

In Saturday,  29th August, 11 months after she made the accusation, the lady wrote on X: “Victor Jr Ebele did not r@pe me, I was going through a difficult time and so frightened I took laws into my hands and wrongly accused him. I recognize how this has affected not just him but his family and I am deeply sorry @FCT_PoliceNG.” 
 

In an official statement, she wrote: “To Victor Jr. Ebele, Frank Ebele, and the entire Ebele Family, 

“l am writing this letter with a sincere and deeply remorsetul heart to apologize for the accusations I made against Victor Ebele in 2025. 

“l acknowedge that my actions and statements caused pain, distress, embarrassment, and damage to Victor’s reputation and to the peace of the entire Ebele family. For this, l am truly sorry. 

“At the time, I was going through an extremely difficult and frightening period in my life. I was pregnant, overwhelmed by fear and deeply afraid that I would be left to face the pregnancy and everything that came with it alone. I was under immense emotional stress and did not handle the situation in the right way. While l understand that my circumstances do not excuse what I did, I want to sincerely acknowledge that l allowed fear; confusion, and emotional distress to influence my actions and decisions. 

“I deeply regret accusing Victor of rape and the consequences that followed from that
accusation. I am also sincerely sorry for defaming his character and for any harm humiliation, or distress that my words and actions caused him personally as well as his family. 

“I would also like to sincerely apologize to the Nigerian Police Force for the disrespect, disruption, and unnecessary burden that my actions may have caused. I recognize the seriousness of involving the police in such matters and regret any inconvenience or dificulty that resulted from my actions. 

“To Victor, l am truly sorry for the pain and damage my accusations caused you. 

“To frank, I am sorry for the distress this situation brought upon you. 

“To the entire Ebele family, I sincerely apologize for the embarrassment, hurt. confict, and disruption that my actions brought to your family. 

“I take responsibility for my actions and deeply regret the way I handled what was a very diffcult period in my life. 

“l cannot change what happened, but I can acknowledge the wrong I did, express genuine remorse, and make every effort going forward to conduct myself with greater honesty responsibility, and respect for everyone involved. 

“Please accept my sincere apology. I am genuinely sorry for the hurt I caused Victor, Frank and the entire Ebele family. 

“With sincere remorse and respect, Chioma Oniniwu.” 
 

She also released a video apology. 

Watch the video below.