Segun Olanrewaju’s Remains To Be Repatriated To Nigeria Next Week, Confirms Boxing Board President

The remains of Nigerian boxer Segun Olanrewaju are expected to arrive in Nigeria next week, the President of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC), Rafiu Ladipo, has confirmed. This follows over two months of legal, diplomatic, and procedural efforts to bring the boxer’s body back from Ghana.

Ladipo assured that after extensive negotiations between Nigerian and Ghanaian authorities, the long-awaited return of Olanrewaju’s remains is now imminent. “I can assure you, latest by next week, the body will be brought back. I don’t know the exact day,” he said.

Olanrewaju, known as “Success,” collapsed during a fight against Ghanaian boxer Jon Mbanugu on March 29 at the Trust Sports Emporium Boxing Arena in Accra. He was pronounced dead at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, sparking widespread grief in Nigeria and raising concerns about safety standards in Ghana’s boxing industry.

The delay in repatriation was due to legal requirements, including the need for a coroner’s report following the circumstances of his death. Ghana’s Minister for Youth and Sports, Kofi Adams, explained that the coroner’s findings were necessary before the evacuation could proceed.

“The body was not detained without reason,” Adams said. “The coroner’s report was required to carry on with the burial or evacuation process.”

After receiving the report, the Ghana and Nigerian boxing authorities were cleared to facilitate the return of Olanrewaju’s body.

A government-appointed seven-member committee, led by Ambassador Major (retd.) Amarkai Amarteifio, conducted a thorough investigation, interviewing 30 people and producing a detailed 100-page report. The findings revealed that Olanrewaju had a pre-existing enlarged heart, a condition common among athletes, which contributed to his death, though the exact trigger remains unclear.

The report also exposed serious lapses by the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA), including lack of proper licensing and failure to provide medical supervision during the fight. It was noted that Olanrewaju did not undergo the mandatory medical examination before the bout.

“The GBA doesn’t have a doctor, and when there’s no doctor, there should be no fight,” said Ekow Asmah, a journalist and committee member. “The man in the lab coat who entered the ring was not a doctor — he was an imposter.”

The committee recommended that Ghana take full responsibility for repatriating the boxer’s remains and cover all related funeral costs, emphasizing the need for respect and solidarity between the two nations.

The NBBofC has requested a copy of the committee’s report to be sent to Nigeria as the nation prepares to honor the late boxer and push for improved safety standards in the sport.