James Johnson, formerly known as Iyabo Abade, a past player for the Nigerian Super Falcons, has made a heartfelt plea to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for financial assistance.
Johnson, who transitioned from female to male, requires N69.7 million to complete a corrective surgery that will enable him to have children.
Having played for the Super Falcons between 1997 and 2000, Johnson underwent a successful sex change operation in the United States in 2004.
This operation was funded by Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, then Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Johnson was born a confirmed hermaphrodite, possessing both male and female organs.
In 2023, Johnson reached out to the NFF for financial support to undergo the final stages of his surgery but has yet to receive a response.
Now 40, Johnson expressed his deep desire to complete his transition and fulfill his dream of fathering his own children.
“Anytime I think that I can’t father a child yet, I feel broken. That’s why I wrote to the federation for financial assistance.
The NFF president Ibrahim Gusau is a man with a listening ear and hopefully, through him, the federation can help me achieve my dream,” Johnson shared with Punch.
In a letter titled, ‘Appeal for financial assistance to enable me finalize my surgery of transforming from an intersex person (male and female organs – hermaphrodite) to a full-fledged man so that I can father a child,’ addressed to NFF president Ibrahim Gusau, Johnson detailed his need for the funds to undergo the final two phases of his surgery.
The letter, dated April 4, 2023, read:
“My President, I am using this medium to passionately appeal to you for God and humanity’s sake, to use your good office to assist me financially to enable me to travel to the United States of America where I did the 1st and 2nd phases of surgery (Midway Hospital Medical Centre, Los Angeles) for the surgery and treatment of the 3rd and 4th phases of my transformation to a full-fledged man so that I can father children.
The total cost of the surgery and treatment is one hundred and sixty thousand dollars ($160,000) equivalent to sixty-nine million seven hundred and fifty thousand naira (N69,750,000:00).”
Johnson’s letter also detailed his life story, starting with his birth as a hermaphrodite and his upbringing as a female. His passion for football led him to play for the Super Falcons in 1997. However, following a test that confirmed his hermaphroditic condition—70% male and 30% female—his appointment as a female player was terminated.
“The NFA (Nigeria Football Association) instructed that I should go for sex corrective surgery. The then Minister of Federal Capital Territory Mallam Nasir El-Rufai in 2004 sponsored my trip to the United States of America to undergo the sex corrective surgery.
I was told that I’m going to undergo four phases of surgery. The first and second phases were done, and I was invited to join the Flying Eagles in camp in 2005. I was coached by Samson Siasia, but I was dropped due to overage.
I was able to sign up with NEPA Football Club of Abuja, from there I signed for Plateau United of Jos. I later went on to sign up with Crown Football Club of Ogbomoso in Oyo State, where I was discriminated against and humiliated.”
