The Nigeria football federation (NFF) announced the suspension of a football official, Auwalu Baba Jada from all football-related activities.
The suspension is consequent to a video making rounds on the social media in which Jada who was seen making claims about his involvement in match-fixing in Nigeria Professional football league is apparently the principal character.
According to a statement signed by the NFF General Secretary, Dr. Sanusi Mohammed, the suspension subsist pending the investigation in to the claims by Auwalu Jada.
“Auwalu Baba Jada has been suspended from all football-related activities pending investigations into the video recording in which he is apparently the principal character. The investigations will be conducted by the ethics and integrity units of the Nigeria Football Federation.
“Auwalu Baba Jada will have no role in any football activity, event or programme until the investigations are concluded, and this also means he is summarily suspended from his membership of the Interim Management Committee of the Nigeria Professional Football League”, NFF General Secretary, Dr. Sanusi said on Tuesday.
Jada is a former Chairman of Wikki Tourists FC of Bauchi and is currently a member of the Interim Management committee (IMC) constituted to manage the league after the dissolution of the League Management Company (LMC) by federal government.
In the viral video, the former Head of Competitions, Nigeria Premier League, spoke in Hausa language and his words are translated thus:
“Katsina (United) were defeated here in (Bauchi), I had to insist to see the Governor (of Bauchi) to ensure that Katsina (United) defeated is here even with their eight million (Naira)
“I made them lose. We were the ones that influenced Kano Pillars to defeat Shooting Stars in Kano because we want Lobi (Stars) to survive (relegation).”
He went further to bring God into his match-fixing prowess, “Between me and Lobi (Stars) only God can come between us and can do anything for them.
“Any town that has premier league (club) … aside MFM (lagos), that’s the only town that I don’t have any friend that I can send people to him to coordinate/help in Nigeria, there is none.”
“In any town at all that has premier league some even if they don’t have like for example Kwara, you know they have ABS and their boss was even here (Bauchi). So we have good relationships with people. All you need do is to go and play your game anywhere in Nigeria” said Jada who was formerly the Head of Competitions of the Nigeria Premier League