By Dayo Awoniyi
The Nigerian government has demanded a full investigation into the death of Abubakar Lawal, a Nigerian footballer who played for Vipers Sports Club in Uganda.
Lawal, 29, died on February 24, 2025, after reportedly falling from the third floor of a shopping mall in Entebbe.
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), described the incident as “pathetic and suspicious” and called for a thorough investigation. “No cover-up at all,” she emphasized.
The Nigerian Embassy in Uganda has requested a full autopsy and thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Lawal’s death.
The Ugandan police have launched an investigation and are reviewing CCTV footage and conducting interrogations to establish the exact circumstances of the incident.
Lawal’s death occurred when he allegedly fell from the balcony of a room at the Voicemall Shopping Arcade, where he had gone to meet a friend. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The Nigerian government has vowed to ensure a thorough and transparent investigation into Lawal’s death. “May his soul rest in peace, and may God give his family the fortitude to bear this loss,” said Dabiri-Erewa.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
