By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
The Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) has imposed a lifetime ban on the embattled Chairman of the Badagry Divisional Football Association (BDFA), Dr. Osondu Martins, following allegations of sexual misconduct, financial exploitation, fraud, and abuse of office.
The decision was reached during an emergency congress held on August 24, 2025, where members voted unanimously to uphold disciplinary measures against Martins after weeks of investigation into allegations of gross misconduct.
According to a communiqué signed by LSFA Secretary, Mrs. Vera Hycient Okechukwu, Martins was found guilty of multiple violations, including fraud, sexual assault, trafficking of minors, and breach of Article 20, subsection 3c of the 2023 LSFA Statutes (as amended).
“Dr. Osondu Martins, the former Chairman of the Badagry Divisional Football Association, is hereby placed on a life ban from all football-related activities for engaging in fraud, sexual assault, trafficking in minors, and gross abuse of office,” the statement read.
In addition to the ban, the LSFA also handed an indefinite suspension to all members of the BDFA board, citing their complicity in violations of the statutes.
To ensure continuity, a caretaker committee has been appointed to run the affairs of the BDFA pending a bye-election to fill vacant positions.
This development marks one of the strongest disciplinary actions taken by the Lagos FA in recent years, signaling a zero-tolerance stance on misconduct within its divisions.
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.
