Ex-Falcons player turned man seeks N69m to be able to father children

Former Super Falcons player, Iyabo Abade, now known as James Johnson, has appealed to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for assistance in raising N69.7 million for corrective surgery.

This surgery would enable Johnson, a confirmed hermaphrodite, to have children.

Johnson, who was part of the Falcons from 1997 to 2000, underwent a sex change operation in the United States in 2004, facilitated by the then Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nasir El-Rufai. This followed failed attempts to correct the abnormality that led to Johnson’s removal from the women’s national team.

In a letter addressed to the NFF president, Ibrahim Gusau, dated April 4 and titled ‘Appeal for financial assistance to enable me to finalise 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,’ Johnson expressed the urgency of the situation. He emphasised the need for financial support to undergo the final two phases of surgery that would complete his transformation into a fully male individual.

“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 & 2nd phases of surgery (Midway Hospital Medical Centre, Los Angeles) for the surgery and treatment of the 3rd and 4th phase of my transformation to a full-fledged man so that I can father children,” the letter reads.

“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 recounted his journey, stating, “I was born hermaphrodite i.e both female and male organs and was brought up as a female. I love football and played very well, which led to my selection to play for the Super Falcons in 1997. During my days of playing, an issue ensued that led to a test, which confirmed that I am a hermaphrodite, 70% male and 30% female. This led to terminating my appointment as a female player.

“The NFA (Nigeria Football Association) instructed that I should go for sex corrective surgery. The then Minister of the 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.”