A former Gills player and his three brothers have appeared in court accused of charity fraud.

Efe Sodje, who played at Priestfield during the 2007/08 season, appeared at the Old Bailey on Monday to plead not guilty to a charge of fraudulent trading involving the Sodje Sports Foundation, which was set up to help fund sport in Nigeria.

The offence is alleged to have been carried out between 2008 and 2014 and the 44-year-old, of Cheadle, Greater Manchester, was also charged with one count of money laundering.

His brother Sam, 37, from Dartford, who played in the Premier League for Reading and also spent the 2009/10 season at Charlton, also pleaded not guilty to the fraudulent trading charge and five counts of money laundering.

The other two brothers, Bright, 50, of Sale in Greater Manchester, and Stephen, 42, of Bexley, also denied the fraudulent trading charge.

Two other men, Emmanuel Ehikhamen, of Belvedere, and Andrew Oruma, of Bexley, were jointly charged with Efe and Sam on one of the money laundering charges.

Ehikhamen is also charged with 11 further money laundering offences and Oruma with one further money laundering offence.

They deny all the charges against them, which are alleged to have taken place in November and December 2013.

All were released on bail and the Sodje brothers will stand trial in July.