Ghana’s Ministry of Youth and Sports has assured that the remains of Nigerian boxer Segun Olanrewaju will be repatriated to Nigeria soon, with Sports Minister Kofi Adams confirming that all necessary clearances have now been obtained for the evacuation process, The PUNCH reports.
Adams explained that the delay in repatriating the boxer’s body was due to legal requirements that had to be fulfilled following the circumstances of his death.
“The body was not detained for no reason. In the circumstances of his death, the coroner act is invoked and the report of the coroner is needed to carry on with the burial or evacuation process,” Adams told The PUNCH.
“That report delayed the investigations committee work but finally they had it and submitted their report. The Ghana and Nigerian boxing authorities are now cleared to evacuate the remains of the late boxer.”
The minister confirmed that his ministry is ready to provide assistance when the two boxing authorities finalise arrangements for the repatriation.
“My ministry is ready to assist in any way possible when the two boxing authorities decide on what to do,” Adams said.
“From the briefing I got from the GBA president, he engaged his counterpart in Nigeria on Saturday and they are settling on a date and he will get back to me.”
Wonder Mandel, administrative assistant to the Minister, assured that active efforts are being made to expedite the process.
“Kindly be assured that the Ghana Boxing Authority, in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana, is actively working to finalise all arrangements,” Mandel said.
“Currently, efforts are being made to fast-track the repatriation process to ensure the late boxer’s remains are respectfully transported to Nigeria and to his family in the shortest possible time.”
The Nigeria Boxing Board of Control secretary-general, Remi Aboderin, expressed relief at the progress, stating that the situation is nearing resolution.
“We are glad we are getting a foreclosure on this soon. It is an unfortunate situation and we pray against that tragedy again. Even in situations where all steps are taken, this can happen,” Aboderin said.
“We believe that by the end of this week, the events will be wrapped up, that is, the paperwork will be done for his return and all necessary steps will be taken.”
The development comes nearly two months after Olanrewaju, popularly known as ‘Success’, collapsed during a bout against Ghanaian boxer Jon Mbanugu at the Trust Sports Emporium Boxing Arena at Bukoum on March 29 and was later pronounced dead at the Korle-Bu Hospital.
A government-appointed committee investigating the death revealed that the fighter had pre-existing heart conditions, whilst also exposing serious regulatory failures by the Ghana Boxing Authority, which had no licensed doctor present when the boxer collapsed.
Veteran journalist and boxing expert Ekow Asmah, who was part of the seven-member committee set up by Adams to investigate Olanrewaju’s death, disclosed the GBA was not compliant with basic safety protocols saying, “The GBA doesn’t have a doctor. And when there’s no doctor, there should be no fight. Segun Olanrewaju didn’t do the mandatory medical examination before fighting.
“The GBA had no doctor when Segun Olanrewaju collapsed. The young man wearing a lab coat who entered the ring wasn’t a doctor. He was clearly an imposter.”
The committee’s 100-page report, submitted to Adams, recommended that Ghana should assume full responsibility for repatriating Olanrewaju’s remains to Nigeria and cover all funeral and burial expenses.
