NiDCOM to probe Nigerian player’s death in Uganda
The Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has described the death of ex-Nigeria junior international and Vipers SC of Uganda player, Abubakar Lawal, as suspicious, noting that NiDCOM will demand a thorough investigation into the tragic incident, The NewsNGR reports.
Lawal’s death was announced by his football club and the Ugandan Police on Monday, with initial reports suggesting he died in a motorcycle accident before the police said in a statement that he allegedly fell from the balcony of a shopping mall in Kampala, the Ugandan capital.
“Preliminary reports indicate that Lawal arrived at the shopping mall in his vehicle, registration number UBQ 695G, to meet his friend, Omary Naima, a Tanzanian national residing in room 416 since February 20, 2025,” Uganda Police said in a statement on Monday.
“According to Naima, she left Lawal in the room preparing tea and proceeded to a game centre within the mall. Shortly after, at approximately 8:00 AM, Lawal reportedly fell from the balcony. He was rushed to Entebbe Referral Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.”
In the wake of the news and amid calls from Nigerians, including Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, who was a former teammate of Lawal, chairman of NiDCOM, Dabiri-Erewa said that the commission was on top of the situation.
“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.
“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,” Dabiri-Erewa told The NewsNGR.
“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, 29, moved from Wikki Tourists to Nasarawa United in 2019 before joining As Kigali in 2020.
After two years in Rwanda, he moved to Uganda, where he joined Vipers.
