Barrister Abdulsalami Ginsau, a Nigerian lawyer and well-known member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has reportedly died after getting trapped in a hotel elevator in Abuja. The exact circumstances of the incident remain unclear.
Eyewitnesses said the incident happened on Tuesday. Sources revealed that Ginsau was stuck inside the lift for a long time, raising fears that delays in rescue efforts may have contributed to his death. He is believed to have suffocated before help arrived.
Details about what caused the elevator to fail are still unclear. While some sources suspect a power outage may have immobilised the lift, others suggest a possible mechanical fault. No official explanation has been released so far.
The name of the hotel where the incident occurred has not been disclosed, heightening concerns about transparency and safety. The tragedy has sparked outrage across Nigeria, with many questioning safety standards in hotels and public buildings in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Questions are being asked about whether regular maintenance checks were conducted on the elevator and if proper emergency procedures were in place.
Reacting to the incident, former lawmaker Shehu Sani called it both tragic and disturbing. On his verified Facebook page, he wrote: “The case of Barrister Abdulsalami Ginsau is pathetic. He was reportedly trapped in an Abuja hotel lift and he suffocated to death. Could it be that power supplying the lift ceased? Could it be that the lift has technical issues? Could it be that it’s just a tragedy of fate? May Allah grant him Aljanna Firdausi. Amin.”
His words reflect the feelings of many Nigerians who have taken to social media to call for stricter enforcement of safety rules in public buildings, especially busy locations like hotels, malls, and offices.
Investigations by SaharaReporters show that Ginsau was not just a lawyer but also an active APC politician in Kano State. He was elected as the State Assistant Organising Secretary during the party’s state executive elections on March 3, 2026—just 28 days before his death.
This tragic event has once again highlighted concerns over infrastructure safety and regulatory oversight in Nigeria.
