The death of Abubakar Lawal, a former Nigerian junior international and player for Vipers SC in Uganda, has sparked significant concern and calls for a thorough investigation. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has expressed her suspicion regarding the circumstances surrounding Lawal’s death, emphasizing that NiDCOM will push for a comprehensive inquiry.
Initial reports from Lawal’s football club and the Ugandan Police indicated that he had died in a motorcycle accident. However, the police later issued a statement suggesting that he had fallen from the balcony of a shopping mall in Kampala, the Ugandan capital, creating conflicting accounts.
According to the Ugandan Police statement, Lawal had arrived at the shopping mall to meet a Tanzanian national, Omary Naima. Naima reportedly left Lawal in her room to go to a game center within the mall, and shortly afterward, Lawal allegedly fell from the balcony. He was pronounced dead at Entebbe Referral Hospital.
The discrepancies in the reports have raised serious questions and prompted widespread calls for a detailed investigation. Among those demanding answers is Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, who was a former teammate of Lawal. Musa and many other Nigerians have expressed their concerns and suspicions about the circumstances of Lawal’s death.
READ:https://naijanewswatch.com/silence-on-drowned-ekene/
Dabiri-Erewa has assured that NiDCOM is actively addressing the situation. She stated that she has been in contact with Nigerian authorities, including the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), to bring attention to the case and demand a proper investigation.
“The contradicting reports suggest something suspicious about his demise and I have been in contact with the Nigerian authority and the Nigeria Football Federation calling their attention to this fatal case in Uganda. I am appealing to the Nigerian Government and the NFF to investigate the incident and work with the Ugandan government to get justice for Lawal,” Musa said.
Dabiri-Erewa confirmed that the Nigerian Embassy in Uganda has been engaged in the matter since it was reported. “The Nigerian Embassy in Uganda has been on the issue immediately after they were informed. Ambassador Shama Shanga has been engaging with the authorities and demanded a thorough investigation,” she told The PUNCH.
She further expressed her sentiments, saying, “This is pathetic and appears suspicious. We demand a thorough investigation. No cover-up at all. This is so sad. NiDCOM will ensure and demand a thorough and transparent investigation. May his soul RIP and God give the family the fortitude to bear this loss,” she also said while replying to Musa on X.
Lawal, who was 29 years old, had a notable football career, playing for Wikki Tourists and Nasarawa United in Nigeria before moving to As Kigali in Rwanda in 2020. He then joined Vipers SC in Uganda, where he continued his professional career until his untimely death.
