Body of late boxer, Segun Olarenwaju to return to Nigeria

 

The body of late Nigerian boxer Segun Olanrewaju is expected to arrive in Nigeria next week, following more than two months of legal, diplomatic, and procedural delays

President of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC), Rafiu Ladipo, confirmed the development after extensive efforts to repatriate the boxer’s remains from Ghana.

“I can assure you, latest by next week, the body will be brought back. I don’t know what particular day,” Ladipo said, noting the exhaustive coordination between Nigerian and Ghanaian authorities.

Olanrewaju, widely known as “Success,” tragically collapsed in the ring on March 29 during a bout with Ghanaian boxer Jon Mbanugu at the Trust Sports Emporium Boxing Arena in Accra. He was later pronounced dead at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, prompting widespread mourning in Nigeria and raising serious questions about boxing safety standards in Ghana.

The delay in returning his body was largely due to legal protocols. Ghana’s Minister for Youth and Sports, Kofi Adams, explained that the country’s Coroner’s Act had to be followed, requiring an official report before repatriation could proceed.

“The body was not detained for no reason,” Adams said in May. “In the circumstances of his death, the coroner’s report was needed to continue with the burial or evacuation process.”

That report has now been finalized and submitted, clearing the way for both Ghanaian and Nigerian authorities to move forward with the body’s evacuation.

A seven-member investigative committee, chaired by Ambassador Major (retd.) Amarkai Amarteifio, was formed by the Ghanaian government to look into the circumstances of Olanrewaju’s death. The committee interviewed 30 individuals and produced a comprehensive 100-page report.

The findings revealed that Olanrewaju had a pre-existing cardiovascular condition — an enlarged heart — which contributed to his sudden death. However, it was unclear what specifically triggered the fatal episode. Veteran journalist and committee member Ekow Asmah confirmed the pathological results, saying, “He had an enlarged heart, which is common for most athletes, but the specific trigger remains unknown.”

More alarming were the revelations of gross negligence by the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA). According to the report, the bout was conducted without proper licensing or medical oversight. Olanrewaju reportedly did not undergo the mandatory medical examination before the fight.

“The GBA doesn’t have a doctor. And when there’s no doctor, there should be no fight,” Asmah stated. “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 and burial costs. It also emphasized the need for better safety regulations in Ghana’s boxing scene, calling for urgent reforms.

The NBBofC has requested a copy of the committee’s report to be officially shared with Nigerian authorities, as the country prepares to welcome back one of its own — not just with grief, but with a call for justice and accountability.