The body of late Nigerian boxer, Segun ‘Success’ Olanrewaju, will arrive in Nigeria next week, according to the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC).
President of the board, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, confirmed that after over two months of back-and-forth between Nigerian and Ghanaian authorities, arrangements to bring back Olanrewaju’s remains are finally complete.
“I can assure you that the body will be brought back latest by next week, though I can't confirm the exact day,” Ladipo told The Punch.
Olanrewaju died after collapsing during a boxing match against Ghana’s Jon Mbanugu on March 29 at the Trust Sports Emporium in Accra. He was pronounced dead at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital shortly after.
His death sparked outrage and grief across Nigeria and raised questions about the safety standards at boxing events in Ghana. Investigations into the incident revealed serious lapses by the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA), including lack of medical personnel and failure to follow standard procedures.
Delays in bringing his body home were caused by legal requirements, including the need for a coroner’s report. Ghana’s Sports Minister, Kofi Adams, had earlier explained that investigations had to be completed before his remains could be released.
“The body wasn’t held without reason. The coroner’s report was necessary before any burial or repatriation could happen,” Adams said in May.
A seven-man committee, led by retired Major and Ambassador Amarkai Amarteifio, was set up by the Ghanaian government to investigate Olanrewaju’s death. The panel interviewed 30 witnesses and released a detailed 100-page report.
The report revealed that Olanrewaju had a pre-existing heart condition. According to veteran journalist and committee member Ekow Asmah, the autopsy showed that the boxer had an enlarged heart — a condition sometimes found in athletes — though what triggered it remains unknown.
More alarming were the committee’s findings that the GBA failed to meet basic medical and regulatory requirements. The investigation found that there was no licensed medical doctor at the venue on the night of the fight.
“There was no doctor present. The person who entered the ring wearing a lab coat wasn’t even a doctor,” Asmah said. “Also, Segun Olanrewaju did not undergo the mandatory medical check-up before the bout.”
The committee recommended that the Ghanaian government should take full responsibility for the repatriation of Olanrewaju’s remains and cover all funeral expenses, as a gesture of solidarity and respect.
The NBBofC has also requested an official copy of the report be sent to Nigeria.
