Ibrahim Magu, Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, stressed the need to adopt multiple measures including sports in order to effectively fight corruption.

“Football as a sport is not new and we take delight in various sporting activities, this is the reason why we want to inculcate football as a strategy to fight corruption”, he said. Magu made this assertion on Thursday, May 3, 2018 while unveiling the official jersey of the EFCC FC (Football Club), Abuja, at the Commission’s permanent site, Jabi, Airport Road, Abuja, where he was joined by senior management staff of the Commission as well as officials of the EFCC FC. The EFCC boss, while appreciating the Commission’s management and staff for their support for the success recorded so far particularly in making the EFCC permanent site a reality said “this was a huge milestone and it is possible because of such dedication from all the staff”.

In his remarks, Mohammed Bako, Patron, EFCC FC, said, “Football is a social way of networking and EFCC is using this platform for dual purpose of enjoying a good game and mobilizing people while creating awareness about the fight against corruption”. He noted that the fight against corruption was indeed for everyone to tackle individually and collectively.

Also speaking, Usman Haruna Ilerike, Secretary, FCT Football Association, commended the EFCC’s initiative noting that “the future is bright for all the Nigerian youths as football is an engaging sport that will redirect the youths from being used for corrupt practices to something purposeful”. He recalled that, “in 2016 in the FCT FA Annual General Assembly an integrity committee consisting of 2 Desk Officers in each club including FCT was set up to check the menace of corruption and this measure is currently being developed and will be sustained worldwide”.

The EFCC FC, which was founded in 2007 with robust management and technical team and players, won the FCT FA Cup in 2017. The EFCC FC jersey come in red and whilte colours for home and away games. A customized jersey with the Commission’s chairman’s name as top striker (Magu 9), was presented to the EFCC boss.

Wilson Uwujaren Head, Media & Publicity