NBB of C Launches Independent Investigation into Allegations Submitted to BoxRec
Photo : NBB of C President Dr. Rafiu Ladipo
The Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC) has announced the appointment of an independent investigator to examine allegations contained in a petition reportedly submitted to BoxRec, the international boxing records database.
In a statement signed by NBB of C President, Dr. Rafiu Oladipo, the Board said it did not receive any official copy of the petition from BoxRec before the platform suspended or delisted NBB of C-sanctioned schedules and fights.
According to the Board, it later obtained a 21-page copy of the petition through independent sources after conducting its own inquiries.
The petition was reportedly authored by Mr. Onyeka Eboma Elum, who described himself as a concerned stakeholder.
The NBB of C stated that Mr. Elum is not a member of the Board and has not held a valid NBB of C licence for more than five years, following what it described as his decision to pursue political ambitions.
The Board expressed concern that BoxRec did not provide it with a copy of the petition or an opportunity to respond before taking action, arguing that this denied the organisation the principle of fair hearing.
Despite its reservations, the NBB of C said it has resolved to conduct a comprehensive investigation into every allegation contained in the petition.
To lead the process, the Board has appointed Dr. Bob Olukoya of Fort Knight Partners as the independent investigator. Dr. Olukoya is a sports lawyer and holds a PhD in Sports Business.
According to the statement, the investigator has been mandated to verify the authenticity of each allegation in the petition, determine the culpability of any individuals named, examine the legality of the petitioner’s requests to BoxRec, and recommend appropriate sanctions where necessary.
The investigation will also seek to propose safeguards and control measures aimed at improving transparency and accountability within the operations of the NBB of C. In addition, the investigator is expected to engage the petitioner, affected boxers, the NBB of C and BoxRec for further clarification where required.
The Board said the final report of the investigation will be published within four weeks.
The NBB of C expressed its commitment to ensuring a transparent process and addressing all issues raised in the petition through an independent review.
