Last Sunday a video trended on social media showing one football official boasting about his exploits in ‘fixing’ matches to a few people although he alleged that the interview was doctored to make the portion where he spoke look like he fixed games. I know this gentleman and was looking forward to how the matter would be resolved since the new President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Ibrahim Gusau was in India to support the country’s girls’ U-17 players who won the bronze medal by beating Germany on penalties.
Before Gusau’s arrival, the Interim Management Committee (IMC) had written Gusau informing him of the need to dispense with this official’s service going by the content of his recorded interview. In fact, IMC chieftains refused to invite the official to the body’s Tuesday meeting in Abuja and went ahead to also delist him from the IMC’s WhatsApp group. It, therefore, came as a relief the ease with which Gusua suspended the official who many people revealed was nominated into the IMC through the NFF’ appointees’ list approved by the president, rightly or wrongly. Did you call this a face-saving exercise? As they say in law, Res ipsa loquitur -the facts spoke for themselves.
The marker in this incident was the swiftness in taking a decision and the way it was treated with despatch. No sentiments. I’m sure that this official would have learned his lessons, although I would prefer that he is allowed to defend himself. Gusau is a native speaker of this official and would have listened to the interview before authorising his suspension from the IMC.
Ardent followers of the domestic game were excited to read NFF’s letter suspending the official which raised hopes that a proper investigation would be conducted into the matter to fish out the culprits and allow them to face the full weight of the law as a deterrent to others.
Part of the NFF’s letter to the official read thus: “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. Mohammed Sanusi said on Tuesday.
Yes, I’m using his name for the first time here based on NFF’s suspension letter which revealed that Baba Jada was being suspended from all football-related activities, pending investigations into a video that has been trending online for some days now, in which he is apparently the principal character. An interesting time for the beautiful game in Nigeria. Other names and some clubs were mentioned in the video. It is expected that they would be invited to clear their names. Culprits should never be given a slap on the wrist or the matter swept under the carpet after the initial buzz.
The big question to ask Gusau if indeed he is serious to get to the root of this matter is how long it would take him to reconstitute all the committees needed to support his tenure. What would the committees look like in terms of the quality of their members? With the suspension of Baba Jada, how much longer would it take Gusau to name members of the ethics and disciplinary committees to commence the investigations into a potential match-fixing racket, if the wordings of the video confessions are proven to be true?
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What the IMC needs now is to restore the confidence of the big players in the corporate world that the body is determined to reinvent the domestic game by flushing out the fixers and those who bring the game to disrepute by their actions. Baba Joada’s case offers the best opportunity to either free him based on his new revelation or nail him if his defence is weak. One only hopes this matter doesn’t head to the civil courts if Jada insists on clearing his name before the public.
NFF President should do something about those club owners who alleged or should one say informed him that the highest bidder won the domestic league title. Isn’t that more grievous than the contents of Baba Jada’s admittance? Gusau should reconstitute the key committees at the Dankaro House if his administration must be perceived as being ready for the daunting tasks of changing the face of the domestic game here.
A new dawn beckons for our game here if the NFF and IMC show enough synergy to make the game investor-friendly since no business concern would align its goods or services with corrupt people or fixers. Baba Jada may have fallen from the crest but he still insists that he was misrepresented, making this probe one in which a lot would be disclosed when those mentioned are called to tell their stories.
At the yet-to-be-named panel, some club chairmen may be indicted. Players and referees would be identified as part of the syndicate, that is if it exists. For sure, such things would cease to provide those to adjudicate in the probe panel are not influenced. The world is waiting in bated breath to see if our football chiefs can use this allegation to stamp out match-fixing in the domestic leagues.
The IMC should be commended for going to the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) to discuss possible live coverage of the domestic league. This is the largest television network and used to be the channel through which Nigerians watched key international matches involving the country’s representatives, including the local league which was then sponsored by Bournvita on NTA. This writer hopes that the IMC officials know that NTA can only perform its social responsibility role to its citizenry without being taxed to pay a dime in return. Events in the past have shown where live domestic matches were taken off the air without apologies only to be replaced by an event in which top government functionaries are seated in ceremonies which serve their selfish interests. At other times by political rallies.
No decision was reached at Tuesday’s meeting as both parties have agreed to meet again and finalise discussions. The IMC chieftains are looking at various possibilities. There are indications that they have also opened discussions with Multichoice to get Super Sports broadcast the league to an international audience.
A league without official broadcasts right holder(s) can be likened to winking in the dark. With domestic league games being broadcast live on television, referees, players, coaches, club officials and indeed fans would have no choice but to conform to the laid down rules and regulations. It would be easy to identify those beasts who take the laws in their hands to batter match officials to a pulp and walk away as if it is their duty to resort to self-help to vent their anger on match referees.
Indeed, Gusau, having inaugurated the IMC must denounce the LMC and is clandestine activities on social media otherwise the drive by the IMC for cash to be self-financing would be a mirage. This idea of faceless people talking to the media about the plans of the LMC in a 24-league format is bunkum. The European leagues don’t have a 24-team format in spite of their awesome structures.
The inauguration of the IMC by the NFF President presupposes an official seal to the body. Therefore, a clear statement renouncing the LMC would be the marketing fillip for the IMC to outsource its financing. Some disgruntled people misinforming the public on social media must be stopped forthwith. Nigeria isn’t a lawless country.