The trial of former Macclesfield Town footballer Efe Sodje, and his two brothers, has collapsed,

Sodje, 35, of Cheadle, Stockport, was on trial at the Old Bailey accused of money laundering alongside Sam and Akpo Sodje, both also former footballers, and two other men, Emmanuel Ehikhamen and Andrew Oruma.

They were accused of helping to launder cash from an £80,000 internal fraud.

It was alleged that the men, who all denied money laundering, were involved in channelling proceeds from the scam which targeted firms in Columbia, India, Italy and Abu Dhabi over a month in 2013.

Jurors were told that Akpo Sodje now lives in Dubai and has declined to return to Britain to be interviewed by detectives.

The trial went on for three weeks but was halted as Sam Sodje gave evidence in his defence. Judge Georgina Kent discharged the jury from returning verdicts in the case on Thursday for legal reasons.

Efe Sodje made almost 200 appearances for Bury and played 89 times for Macclesfield.

A date for a retrial is expected to be decided at a later date.