Controversy Trails Late Nigerian Boxer’s Estate as Widow, Family Clash

A fierce dispute has emerged between Adebusola, the widow of late Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun “Success” Olanrewaju, and his family over donations and assets following his tragic death in Ghana last year, with family members hinting that Adebusola bears responsibility for his demise, The PUNCH reports.

Adebusola told our correspondent that the funds paid by the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) were withheld by her late husband’s relatives.

“All the money the NBBofC helped me recover from the GBA, Segun’s family took everything,” she said. “We didn’t get anything that would help us with our basic needs, and my parents have been the ones helping me. I can’t work a serious job since my children are still very young.”

She explained that when Ghana remitted $3,000 following the incident, $1,000 was taken by the family, while the remaining $2,000 intended for her children came with strict restrictions.

“Initially, when the accident happened, they paid $3,000 from Ghana, so $1,000 was given to the family, but the $2,000 was given to me with the condition that there will be no access to it until my children turn 18 years, which is in 16 years,” she said. “I don’t understand where and how they want me to feed the children and raise them till they turn 18.”

Adebusola further alleged that the family sold her late husband’s commercial bus without sharing the proceeds.

“They sold Segun’s bus, and they did not give me any money from it,” she added.

The boxer’s family, however, denied these claims. While attempts to reach them directly were unsuccessful, videos posted on the boxer’s sister’s TikTok account (@queenimoleaj) offered a contrasting account.

In one video, Mrs Agnes Olanrewaju, the boxer’s mother, speaking in Yoruba, accused Adebusola of cursing her husband prior to his fatal trip to Ghana.

“She cursed her husband after he went to Ghana. She said, ‘Segun, the way he went to Ghana and didn’t tell me, he won’t come back.’ And truly, my child did not come back,” she said. “Help me beg her not to destroy the life of my family. And they should not let her kill my children.”

On the financial allegations, she insisted, “I didn’t take the $3,000 they brought. It would be sad for me to take money from my child’s death. How much is the money? It can’t become my child. Nothing they can do can become my son, that I would now say I want to take the money.”

The boxer’s sister, Anuoluwapo Olanrewaju, challenged Adebusola’s status as a wife, claiming there was no traditional or legal marriage.

“My aunty wanted to make passports for Adebusola and my brother so they can travel out of the country. Adebusola said she cannot use ‘Olanrewaju’, but her father’s surname,” she said. “Secondly, we wanted to pay her bride price. Her father said we shouldn’t pay, that she’s still in university… You know that we didn’t pay your bride price, how do you want us to recognise you as a wife? We have learned people in Nigeria here. You are not married legally, so you are not a wife, you are a baby mama.”

Anuoluwapo also questioned her claim to the bus.

“In one video I saw, she said we sold the bus. Who are you to make a decision for the family? You are not married legally, so you have no say on my brother’s remains. If you were friendly with the family from day one, we would give you many entitlements without paying your bride price.”

She accused Adebusola of failing to show love while her brother was alive.

“You also did tattoo after my brother died. If the love was there, you would have done it when he was alive. Someone you did not give rest of mind, and you are calling yourself Olanrewaju and saying that because we called you baby mama is why you dropped the surname. Stop lying. Stop painting the family black,” Anuoluwapo said.

Despite the claims, Adebusola confirmed they were not legally married.