Over four years after the heartbreaking on-field death of Chineme Martins, a young defender for Nasarawa United, his family has finally received justice. In a powerful and emotional ruling, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria found the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Nasarawa United, and the now-defunct League Management Company (LMC) guilty of gross negligence that directly contributed to the 23-year-old’s untimely death.
Martins collapsed on the pitch on March 8, 2020, during an NPFL match at the Lafia Township Stadium. Despite immediate concern, a lack of proper emergency response and medical personnel meant he never made it to the hospital alive. His tragic passing rocked Nigerian football and shone a glaring light on the systemic failure to protect players’ health and safety.
The court described the events of that day as “reprehensible,” highlighting a complete failure to meet basic medical standards.
“Among the committee’s key findings were: Nasarawa United FC, late Chineme Martins’ club, had neither a medical doctor nor a physiotherapist, with a retired community health assistant heading its medical team, and this led to the mismanagement of the resuscitation process; there was no functional ambulance at the stadium as at the time of the incident, which led to a faulty evacuation process, and the player died before he could reach the hospital and; Nasarawa FA and Nasarawa United FC failed in their duties to put in place emergency medical services for the match.”
The NFF’s Adhoc Committee on Safety and Security revealed that Martins was allowed to play without undergoing an echocardiogram—a standard heart screening that is mandatory at the start of every season. Instead of a qualified doctor or physio, a retired community health assistant was overseeing medical needs that day.
The court didn’t stop at the club alone. It ruled that the NFF, LMC, and match commissioner also failed in their duty of care:
“The league, the NFF, and the match commissioner of the day had a duty of care to ensure that the club complied with the relevant regulation, and they breached it,” the court stated.
Global players’ union FIFPRO, which supported the Martins family throughout the legal process, hailed the ruling as a “powerful precedent” that should reshape player safety in Nigerian football.
“The court’s ruling stated it was ‘reprehensible’ that Martins was allowed to play without complete medical tests,” FIFPRO said. “An echocardiogram was never conducted on Martins at the start of each of his three seasons with the club – and without the provision of adequate medical facilities at the Lafia Township Stadium.”
The court has now ordered Nasarawa United to compensate the Martins family, marking a long-overdue recognition of their loss and suffering.
Martins’ brother, Michael, expressed both relief and hope:
“The court has spoken and ruled that Nasarawa United, the league management company and the NFF did not take into consideration my brother’s safety, health and welfare which contributed to his death.”
“I hope that the appropriate medical provisions are put in place for Nigeria’s footballers going forward, so that no family has to endure the pain we have suffered.”
The verdict closes a painful chapter but opens the door for systemic change—a call for never again in Nigerian football.
