The body of late Nigerian boxer, Segun Olanrewaju, is expected to be flown back to Nigeria next week, following months of diplomatic and procedural efforts to facilitate his repatriation from Ghana.
President of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC), Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, confirmed the development, stating that negotiations between authorities in both countries had reached a successful conclusion.
“We are hopeful that by next week, the remains will be returned, though I can’t confirm the exact date yet,” Ladipo said.
He explained that Nigerian officials had worked tirelessly to ensure the boxer’s return, noting that the process had been emotionally draining for the family and the wider boxing community.
Olanrewaju, fondly called “Success,” tragically collapsed during a bout with Ghana’s Jon Mbanugu on March 29 at the Trust Sports Emporium in Bukom, Accra.
He was later confirmed dead at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
His passing sparked widespread mourning in Nigeria and raised serious questions about boxing safety regulations in Ghana.
Investigations later revealed multiple failings on the part of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA).
The repatriation process was delayed due to legal formalities, particularly the requirement for a coroner’s report. Ghana’s Youth and Sports Minister, Kofi Adams, previously stated that the coroner’s inquest had to be concluded before arrangements could be made to release the body.
“The delay wasn’t arbitrary. Given the nature of his death, the coroner’s report was necessary for the repatriation to proceed,” Adams explained in an earlier statement.
A seven-member panel, led by retired Ambassador Major Amarkai Amarteifio, was tasked with investigating the incident.
Their report, which included testimonies from over 30 individuals, identified that Olanrewaju had an undiagnosed enlarged heart, a condition often seen in athletes.
According to veteran journalist and committee member Ekow Asmah, “While the heart condition was pre-existing, medical experts couldn’t determine what exactly triggered it during the fight.”
More concerning, however, were the lapses in safety oversight.
The investigation concluded that the GBA conducted the fight without having a certified medical doctor present and failed to conduct the mandatory pre-fight medical checks.
Asmah revealed, “There was no licensed doctor at ringside when Olanrewaju collapsed. The individual who entered the ring in a lab coat wasn’t a qualified medical professional.”
The committee ultimately recommended that the Ghanaian government cover the costs associated with returning Olanrewaju’s body to Nigeria and fund his burial, as a gesture of accountability and solidarity.
The NBBofC has formally requested a copy of the committee’s full report for its records.
