Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side Sunshine Stars have suspended player Suraju Ibrahim over inappropriate comments made against the club and the Ondo State Government.

The suspension was announced in an official statement signed by the club's media officer, Isaac Afolabi, following the emergence of a viral video showing Ibrahim making derogatory remarks about his employers.

According to the statement, the club has launched an internal investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident, which they described as inconsistent with the team's core values of discipline, respect, and professionalism.

"We do not intend to be unnecessarily harsh on any of our hardworking players," part of the statement reads. "We will not also tolerate any form of indiscipline from players, individuals whose actions do not reflect the values and intentions of the Owena Whales."

The club further emphasized that "everyone associated with the club is expected to uphold its values, especially during this period."

The suspension comes at a particularly difficult time for Sunshine Stars, who were recently relegated from the Nigeria Premier Football League following their 2-1 defeat to Niger Tornadoes in Ijebu-Ode on Sunday.

Despite their relegation, the Owena Whales still have one match remaining in the current campaign, as they are scheduled to face El-Kanemi Warriors in Maiduguri for their final fixture of the season.

The nature of Ibrahim's specific comments was not detailed in the club's statement, but the timing suggests they may be related to the team's recent relegation from Nigeria's top-flight football division.