Omotayo Fashola
The remains of Nigerian boxer Segun Olanrewaju are set to arrive in Nigeria next week, according to the President of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control. This comes after over two months of legal and diplomatic processes to repatriate his body from Ghana.
NBBofC President Rafiu Ladipo confirmed that the long-awaited return of Olanrewaju’s body is now nearing completion following extensive coordination between Nigerian and Ghanaian officials.
“I can assure you, latest by next week, the body will be brought back. I don’t know what particular day,” Ladipo stated.
Ladipo highlighted the persistent efforts by Nigerian authorities to ensure Olanrewaju’s remains are repatriated respectfully, concluding a lengthy and emotionally difficult process for the boxer’s family and the Nigerian boxing community.
Olanrewaju, nicknamed “Success,” collapsed during a match against Ghanaian boxer Jon Mbanugu on 29 March at the Trust Sports Emporium Boxing Arena in Bukoum, Accra. He was later pronounced dead at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
His passing sparked widespread mourning in Nigeria and raised concerns about safety standards in Ghana’s boxing industry, with investigations exposing significant regulatory lapses by the Ghana Boxing Authority.
The delay in returning the boxer’s body was due to legal procedures required after his death. Ghana’s Minister for Youth and Sports, Kofi Adams, previously stated that a coroner’s report was necessary before repatriation could proceed.
“The body was not detained for no reason. In the circumstances of his death, the coroner act is invoked and the report of the coroner is needed to carry on with the burial or evacuation process,” Adams told The PUNCH in May.
“That report delayed the investigations committee work but finally they had it and submitted their report. The Ghana and Nigerian boxing authorities are now cleared to evacuate the remains of the late boxer.”
A seven-member committee, led by Ambassador Major (retd.) Amarkai Amarteifio, conducted a thorough investigation into Olanrewaju’s death, interviewing 30 individuals and compiling a 100-page report.
The committee’s findings revealed that medical examinations identified pre-existing heart conditions that contributed to the tragedy. Boxing expert Ekow Asmah, part of the investigative team, stated that the boxer had an enlarged heart, a common condition among athletes.
“The pathologist was able to diagnose the death of the boxer in specific detail and we realised that he had a pre-existing condition – an enlarged heart which is common for most athletes – but as to what triggered the pre-existing condition, it’s not ascertainable after all the scientific tests,” Asmah explained.
The committee also uncovered serious failures by the Ghana Boxing Authority, including operating without proper licensing and neglecting basic safety measures during the bout.
“The GBA doesn’t have a doctor. And when there’s no doctor, there should be no fight. Segun Olanrewaju didn’t do the mandatory medical examination before fighting,” Asmah disclosed.
“The GBA had no doctor when Segun Olanrewaju collapsed. The young man wearing a lab coat who entered the ring wasn’t a doctor. He was clearly an imposter.”
The committee recommended that Ghana take full responsibility for repatriating Olanrewaju’s remains and cover all funeral expenses, emphasizing Ghana’s commitment to African solidarity. The NBBofC has also requested a copy of the report for further review.
