“Katsina (Utd) were defeated here in (Bauchi). I had to insist to see the governor (of Bauchi) to ensure that Katsina (Utd) is defeated here even with their N8 million.”
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has suspended Auwalu Baba Jada from all football-related activities following a viral video that showed him boasting of his involvement in match-fixing in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
Mr Auwalu, a member of the newly inaugurated Interim Management Committee for the top flight division, was captured speaking in Hausa about how he influenced league matches.
He also boasted about his ability to influence and rig the outcome of matches in the league anywhere in the country.
“Katsina (Utd) were defeated here in (Bauchi). I had to insist to see the governor (of Bauchi) to ensure that Katsina (Utd) defeated is here even with their N8 million. I made them lose,” he stated in the video. “We were the ones that influenced (fixed) Kano Pillars to defeat Shooting Stars in Kano because we want Lobi (Stars) to survive (relegation). Between me and Lobi (Stars), only God can come between us and can do anything for them.”
He added, “In fact, any town that has a premier league (club)… aside (from) MFM (Lagos), that’s the only town that I don’t have any friends 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 to do is to go and play your game anywhere in Nigeria.”
The NFF announced his suspension in a statement.
“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,” said the NFF.
The statement further said, “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.”
