How Nigerian Footballer Wilson Oruma Was Scammed of His Fortune by a Fake Pastor

Throwback Thursday:The Painful Story of Wilson Oruma’s Post-Football Struggles After a Pastor Scammed Him of His Life Savings

On this Throwback Thursday, we take a look at one of the most heartbreaking stories to come out of Nigerian football, the story of former Super Eagles midfielder Wilson Oruma, whose life took a tragic turn after he fell victim to a multimillion-naira scam orchestrated by a so-called “man of God.”

Wilson Oruma was once a celebrated name in Nigerian football. A gifted midfielder, he represented top French clubs like RC Lens, Olympique Marseille, Sochaux, and Guingamp during his career. He was also a part of Nigeria’s famous Golden Eaglets squad that won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 1993.

At the peak of his career, Oruma lived a dream life, earning good money, playing in Europe, and representing his country on the international stage.

But like many footballers nearing the end of their careers, Oruma began planning for life after football.

Retirement was on the horizon, and he was looking for a sustainable business to invest in a way to ensure financial security after hanging up his boots. His eyes were set on the lucrative oil and gas sector, a common but risky venture for many ex-athletes in Nigeria.

In his quest for a solid post-retirement investment, Oruma was introduced to a man who presented himself as a pastor. This “pastor” claimed he had access to oil blocks that were up for sale, promising Oruma high returns and guaranteed success. Trusting the man, and perhaps convinced by the spiritual front he presented, Oruma went all in.

Without proper due diligence, Oruma withdrew his entire life savings and reportedly invested close to ₦2 billion (about $5 million at the time) into the fraudulent oil and gas deal.

It wasn’t long before the truth came out, he later found out that the so-called pastor was lying and the oil blocks were nothing more than a scam. Just like that, everything Oruma had worked for over two decades was gone.

The aftermath was devastating. Reports at the time revealed that the financial loss took a serious toll on Wilson Oruma’s mental health.

Friends and family became deeply concerned as he struggled to cope with the trauma and emotional breakdown from being scammed out of his fortune. The situation left him financially stranded and emotionally wrecked.

Help eventually came through Amaju Pinnick, the then-president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). Pinnick not only stepped in to cover Oruma’s outstanding hospital bills but also helped him secure decent accommodation to get his life back on track. It was a rare but touching act of support from a football administrator to a former player in need.

Wilson Oruma’s story is more than just a sad tale, it’s a cautionary lesson to athletes and anyone who finds sudden wealth. It reminds us of the importance of financial education, proper guidance, and the dangers of blind trust, especially when money and religion are involved.

Though Oruma’s career once shone brightly on the pitch, his post-football life serves as a powerful reminder of how fragile that success can be without the right protection and advice.