The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is pressing forward in its quest for answers regarding the tragic death of former Nigeria U20 player, Abubakar Lawal, who passed away in Uganda on Monday.
NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, reaffirmed on Friday that the federation remains committed to uncovering the truth behind Lawal’s sudden demise.
“We are not relenting in the search for truth. The Federal Government of Nigeria has expressed its determination to get to the bottom of this, and we have also reached out to our counterparts in the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) for assistance,” Sanusi stated.
Initial reports suggested that Lawal died in a motorbike accident, while later accounts claimed he was involved in a car crash. However, the Ugandan police later confirmed that the former Vipers FC player fell from the third floor of a hotel at the Voicemail Shopping Mall in Bwebajja while visiting a friend, Tanzanian national Naima Omary, who has since been taken into custody.
Following the incident, Sanusi immediately contacted FUFA General Secretary, Edgar Watson Suubi, urging a thorough investigation. Suubi acknowledged the conflicting reports and assured the NFF that FUFA was gathering official statements from law enforcement and medical authorities.
The NFF has also formally written to FUFA, requesting clarity on the circumstances surrounding Lawal’s death and arrangements for the repatriation of his remains to Nigeria.
Lawal, a key member of Nigeria’s squad at the 2015 FIFA U20 World Cup in New Zealand, was a vital player for Ugandan top-flight side Vipers FC before his tragic passing.
