The remains of Nigerian boxer Segun ‘Success’ Olanrewaju, who tragically passed away during a bout in Ghana, are expected to arrive in Nigeria next week, according to the President of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC), Rafiu Ladipo.
Ladipo confirmed that after more than two months of legal and diplomatic delays, the repatriation process is now nearly complete. “I can assure you, latest by next week, the body will be brought back. I don’t know what particular day,” he stated.
Olanrewaju collapsed in the ring on March 29 during a fight against Ghanaian boxer Jon Mbanugu at the Trust Sports Emporium in Accra. He was later pronounced dead at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. His death sparked widespread grief and raised serious concerns about safety standards in Ghana’s boxing community.
Delays in returning his body were due to legal requirements, including a coroner’s report mandated under Ghanaian law. Ghana’s Sports Minister Kofi Adams explained in May that the coroner’s findings were essential before proceeding with the repatriation.
A government-formed seven-member committee, led by Ambassador Maj. (retd.) Amarkai Amarteifio, conducted a thorough investigation. The 100-page report included testimonies from 30 witnesses and revealed that Olanrewaju had an enlarged heart, a condition common among athletes, which contributed to his death.
Boxing analyst and committee member Ekow Asmah said, “He had a pre-existing condition – an enlarged heart – but the trigger for the fatal event couldn’t be scientifically identified.”
The investigation also exposed serious failures by the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA). The committee found the GBA lacked proper medical protocols and licensing. Notably, Olanrewaju did not undergo mandatory medical checks before the fight. It was further revealed that the individual who entered the ring wearing a lab coat was not a certified doctor.
“The GBA had no doctor when Segun Olanrewaju collapsed. The man who entered the ring was an imposter,” Asmah confirmed.
The committee recommended that the Ghanaian government take full responsibility for repatriating Olanrewaju’s remains and covering all associated funeral expenses, in a gesture of solidarity and respect toward Nigeria.
The NBBofC has also formally requested a copy of the committee’s report to be shared with Nigerian authorities.
