Dayo Thomas
17 January 2008
Abuja — Tragedy hit the Nigeria Football League (NFL) in Abuja yesterday when its accountant, Abubakar Shehu Garba was killed by unidentified gunmen on his way from the bank and made away with the sum of N5.6 million.
His gruesome murder threw the football community into grief, just few days before the commencement of the 26th African Cup of Nations.
The accountant was said to have withdrawn the sum from the Equatorial Trust Bank branch at Wuse 2, Abuja and was returning to the NFL secretariat at Asokoro in his car, when he was blocked by four robbers operating in two cars.
One of the cars was said to have drove past him and blocked him in front, while the other hit his car from behind. Two of the two robbers in the back car jumped out and demanded that the accountant released the money he had just withdrawn from the bank.
A female Youth Corps member serving with the NFL, who was with the accountant, said that the late Garba had asked the robbers which money they were demanding for; a question which she said angered one of the robbers who immediately drew out his pistol and shot the accountant on the chest.
A passer by had to carry the mortally wounded Garba on his back to the nearest hospital, (Kings Care) as many motorists abandoned their cars and ran away.
The late accountant was said to have still been breathing when he was being carried to the hospital but died few minutes later before reaching the place.
Garba, had two children - a boy and a girl.
Meanwhile, NFA Chairman, Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi and Secretary General Bolaji Ojo-Oba as well as the entire management team of the Nigeria Football Association expressed utter shock yesterday afternoon after learning of Garba's death.
"I am shocked beyond words. This is callous. I pray that the Almighty Allah will give the family he has left behind the fortitude to bear the big loss," said Abdullahi.
Abdullahi, Ojo-Oba and Head of Finance Osawaru Onyewense last night paid a visit to the hospital where the body of the late Garba was taken to, and met NPF Chairman Chief Oyuki Obaseki and scribe Alhassan Saleh Yakmut there.
As at 6.30pm some members of the NFL were at the home of the late accountant to condole with the wife and other members of the family.
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