Gusau, Others’ Resignation Will Not Stop Investigation Of NFF – EFCC

Tinubu orders major reform of Nigerian football

By Salifu Usman, Jonathan Nda-Isaiah and Ejike Ejike

The resignation of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, the federation’s General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and other members of the Executive Committee will not affect the ongoing investigation into the utilisation of the Federal Government’s N12 billion intervention fund, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said.

EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale told LEADERSHIP Friday that the commission’s investigation would continue despite the sweeping leadership changes at the football governing body.

“What has their resignation got to do with the EFCC?” Oyewale said. “Investigation is ongoing and resignation does not affect it. We don’t want to be involved in media trials, but the work continues.”

The development came on Thursday as Gusau resigned after three years and 11 months in office, alongside other members of his administration, following mounting pressure over the state of Nigerian football and the recent failures of the national teams.

Gusau was elected NFF president on September 30, 2022, in Benin City, Edo State, and had 34 days remaining on his four-year tenure.

Announcing his resignation at a press conference in Abuja, Gusau said he had taken the decision after consultations with his family, friends and stakeholders and in the overriding interest of Nigerian football.

“My resignation is intended to give way to a comprehensive and orderly reform process aimed at addressing the longstanding institutional, governance and developmental challenges confronting Nigerian football,” he said.

Gusau Defends His Record

Despite leaving amid intense criticism, Gusau defended his stewardship, citing progress in coaching education, domestic league administration, refereeing and infrastructure.

He highlighted the organisation of coaching courses across virtually all licence categories and disclosed that the long-awaited CAF A Licence course was scheduled to begin in September.

He also pointed to greater stability in the NPFL calendar, improved performances by Nigerian referees in continental competitions and the development of a 68-room players’ hostel and training pitches at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

Gusau further cited the Super Eagles’ silver and bronze medals at recent Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and the Super Falcons’ 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations triumph in Morocco among the achievements recorded during his tenure.

However, his departure followed a difficult period for Nigeria’s national teams, including the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Super Falcons’ failure to reach the 2027 Women’s World Cup — the first time Nigeria will miss the women’s tournament since its inception.

The Flying Eagles also failed to qualify for the next Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.

EFCC, ICPC Probe N12bn Fund

Meanwhile, the EFCC and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) are investigating the utilisation of the N12 billion Federal Government intervention fund approved in 2024 to clear outstanding salaries, allowances and bonuses owed to Nigeria’s national teams and coaches.

Some NFF officials connected with the matter have already been invited by investigators and provided statements.

A source previously disclosed that some officials remained on administrative bail while the investigation continued.

The probe became public after the NFF declined a Freedom of Information request seeking documents on the fund’s utilisation, saying the records were already with the EFCC and ICPC.

The controversy has also been fuelled by complaints over unpaid allowances and bonuses involving several national teams despite the federal government intervention.

Calls Grow For Football Reform

Gusau’s resignation has triggered renewed calls for structural reforms within Nigerian football.

Former Vice-Chairman of the FCT Football Association, Patrick Ngwaogu, said Gusau’s resignation would not resolve the problems confronting Nigerian football.

“Removing Gusau will not solve the problem in our football. There are many things to look into holistically,” Ngwaogu said, pointing particularly to the composition of the NFF Congress.

He argued that the proposed normalisation process should extend from local football councils through the state associations to the national federation.

According to Ngwaogu, the resignation of the president and board members creates a leadership vacuum that should be communicated to FIFA, after which a three-member Normalisation Committee could be established in collaboration with the National Sports Commission to administer the federation and organise fresh elections.

Advocacy for Nigeria Football Reform Concepts chairman, Prince Harrison Jalla, also welcomed the resignations but insisted that the development should be followed by deeper reforms.

“The NFF Board is gone, Nigeria Football wins,” Jalla said, while calling for a Normalisation Committee comprising credible individuals.

He demanded that the NFF Congress and Executive Committee be democratically elected on an equal-representation basis by the federating units, with greater private-sector participation.

Ikpeme Takes Charge

Meanwhile, the NFF has moved to ensure continuity at its Secretariat, with Deputy General Secretary Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme assuming the role of Acting General Secretary following Sanusi’s resignation.

Ikpeme, an experienced administrator who joined the NFF in 2007 and previously served as Deputy Secretary-General (Technical), is expected to oversee the federation’s day-to-day operations from Friday.

His appointment comes as Nigerian football enters a period of uncertainty, with attention now turning to the federation’s succession arrangements, the proposed normalisation process and the future of the NFF’s scheduled elections.

For the EFCC, however, the leadership shake-up has not altered its position: the investigation into the N12 billion intervention fund continues.

Tinubu orders major reform

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has directed a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football to overcome repeated failures to qualify for major regional, continental and world tournaments.

“The reform must respond to a longstanding need to strengthen governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability across Nigerian football,” he said.

In a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, the President noted that while other sports had recorded meaningful progress since the reset of the sports sector under the re-established National Sports Commission, football has continued to struggle because of structural weaknesses within the system.

“Football, Nigeria’s most popular sport and the greatest beneficiary of public support, investment and national attention, has continued to struggle basically due to structural deficits within the system,” Tinubu said.

He stressed that Nigerian football must begin to match the country’s exceptional talent, passion and resources with stronger institutions and sustained performance.

President Tinubu directed the chairman of the National Sports Commission to work with the NFF Secretariat and relevant football stakeholders to ensure continuity in essential football administration and facilitate a broad, consultative reform process.

The process will include appropriate engagement with FIFA and CAF while safeguarding Nigeria’s obligations within the international football framework.

The president called on football stakeholders and Nigerians to support the transition and work together to build a stronger, more accountable and successful football system.