Mansour Lawal, the elder brother of late Nigerian footballer Abubakar Lawal, has urged the Nigerian and Ugandan governments to conduct a thorough investigation into his brother’s tragic death.
Mansour speaking in a video shared by Ugandan club, Vipers SC, Mansour appealed for justice, calling on authorities to ensure that those responsible for his brother’s death are held accountable.
Lawal’s death was first announced by his club and the Ugandan police on Monday, February 24. Initial reports suggested he had died in a motorcycle accident. Still, a later police statement indicated that he allegedly fell from the balcony of a shopping mall in Kampala while visiting a Tanzanian friend. The 29-year-old footballer was buried in his home state of Sokoto on Tuesday, and his club, Vipers SC, alongside their fans, honored him with a tribute on Sunday.
“I urge both the Nigerian and Ugandan governments to work closely with the Nigerian embassy to ensure justice prevails,” Mansour Lawal stated. “We appreciate the efforts of the Sokoto State government, the Nigerian embassy, and Vipers SC for their support in ensuring Abubakar’s remains were returned home.” He also expressed gratitude to Lawal’s teammates, fans, and well-wishers for their prayers and condolences.
Ugandan authorities have confirmed that investigations into the cause of the footballer’s death are ongoing. The Nigerian Government, through the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and the Nigerian High Commission in Uganda, has also pledged to ensure a thorough inquiry. Ugandan police provided details of the incident, stating that Lawal had arrived at the shopping mall in his vehicle before visiting his friend, Tanzanian national Omary Naima. According to Naima, she left Lawal in her room preparing tea and went to a game center. Moments later, at around 8:00 AM, Lawal reportedly fell from the balcony. He was rushed to Entebbe Referral Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
NiDCOM Chairman Abike Dabiri-Erewa described the incident as “pathetic and suspicious,” assuring that there would be no cover-up. “We demand a thorough and transparent investigation. This is so sad. NiDCOM will follow this case to the end,” she stated.
Lawal, who was 29 years old, played for Wikki Tourists and Nasarawa United in Nigeria before moving to Rwandan club AS Kigali in 2020. After two seasons in Rwanda, he joined Ugandan champions Vipers SC, where he played until his tragic passing.
