In a landmark judgment, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria has ruled that Chineme Martin’s died due to negligence of some key stakeholders.
Martin’s club as at the team of his death Nasarawa United, the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL), the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and the match commissioner on duty were negligent in the tragic death of Chineme Martins.
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Martins, who was just 25 at the time, died after collapsing on the pitch during a game at the Lafia Township Stadium.
The court found that the match proceeded with glaring deficiencies in medical preparedness—no medical doctor, no physiotherapist, and no functional ambulance were present at the stadium, according to a 2020 report published by the NFF.
In its ruling, the court described it as “reprehensible” that Martins was permitted to play without undergoing comprehensive medical testing.
Specifically, an echocardiogram—a basic cardiovascular screening tool—had not been performed at the start of any of his three seasons with the club.
The court held that Nasarawa United had breached its duty of care to Martins and ordered the club to compensate his family. It also concluded that the NPFL, NFF, and the match commissioner had failed in their collective responsibility to enforce medical safety regulations, thereby contributing to the fatal outcome.
FIFPRO lawyers supported Martins’ family throughout the legal process. His brother, Michael Martins, expressed his relief and vindication following the verdict:
“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.”
This ruling is unprepared in the history of local football in Nigeria and somber reminder of the importance of proper medical protocols in professional sports.
