The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and Super Eagles star Ahmed Musa have demanded a thorough investigation into the death of Nigerian footballer Abubakar Lawal, who reportedly fell to his death in Uganda.
Lawal, originally from Sokoto State, was reported dead on Monday, with Ugandan police stating that the footballer died after falling from a shopping mall.
Expressing concern, NiDCOM Chairperson Abike Dabiri-Erewa described the circumstances surrounding Lawal’s death as “suspicious” and called for a detailed inquiry to uncover the truth.
The incident has sparked calls for justice, with many urging authorities in Uganda to conduct a transparent and thorough investigation.
“This is pathetic and appears suspicious. We demand a thorough investigation. No cover-up at all. This is so sad!” she wrote in a post on her X handle on Tuesday afternoon. “@nidcom_gov will ensure and demand a thorough and transparent investigation. May his soul RIP and God give the family the fortitude to bear this loss.”
‘Something Suspicious’
Initial reports had indicated that the Nigerian player who features for Viper in the Ugandan league had an accident. But he was later said to have passed on after falling from a balcony.
According to Musa, the contradictory reports about Lawal’s death call for concern. The footballer wants the Nigerian and Ugandan authorities to “get justice” for Lawal.
“It is saddened to receive the news of Abubakar Lawal. The news was a shocking one which prompted me to ask further questions and clarification. However, we discovered contrary information about his demise; The first one claimed it was an accident, and the second report claimed he fell from a balcony,” the former Leicester City player wrote on X Tuesday.
“The contradicting reports suggest something suspicious about his demise and I have been in contact with the Nigerian authority and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) 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. Lawal’s soul deserves a thorough investigation and justice must be served if anyone is found guilty.”
The 29-year-old striker had been visiting a Tanzanian friend staying in one of the residential apartments that form part of the mall. The friend told police she had left him alone shortly before the fall.
“Authorities are retrieving CCTV footage and conducting thorough interrogations to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the incident,” Ugandan police said in a statement on Monday.