Olanrewaju: How N4.6 Million Funeral Donation is Tearing Late Boxer’s Wife and Family Apart

A dispute has erupted over a $3,000 (about N4.6 million) funeral donation from the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) following the burial of Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju on June 18, 2025.

Olanrewaju’s widow, Maria Adebusola Olanrewaju, has accused her late husband’s family of seizing the donation and denying her and her children any share. The GBA presented the donation as a gesture of support when the boxer’s remains were returned to Nigeria. According to Maria, her husband’s family also prevented her from performing traditional funeral rites, which has deepened tensions and caused emotional distress for her and her children.

The late boxer collapsed and died during a fight against Ghana’s John Mbanugu at the Bukom Boxing Arena. Following his death, Ghana’s Sports and Recreation Minister, Kofi Adams, commissioned a panel led by Amarkai Amarteifio to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fight.

After six weeks, the panel submitted its report, which indicted both the GBA and the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC). It revealed that the fight had been approved by the GBA despite the absence of a valid contract between Olanrewaju and the promoter, and noted serious lapses in medical preparedness and emergency response by both boxing authorities.