NBBofC Launches Investigation Into Petition That Led to BoxRec Suspension
The Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC) has appointed an independent investigator to examine allegations contained in a petition reportedly submitted to BoxRec, the international boxing records database, which recently suspended the Nigerian body.
Board Denied Fair Hearing, Says President
NBBofC President, Dr Rafiu Oladipo, in a statement yesterday, said that the board did not receive any official copy of the petition from BoxRec before the platform suspended or delisted NBBofC-sanctioned schedules and fights. Oladipo admitted that the board 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 NBBofC president stated that the petitioner, Elum, is not a member of the board and has not held a valid NBBofC boxing license for more than five years, “following his decision to pursue political ambitions.”
Oladipo 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 right to a fair hearing. Despite its reservations, the NBBofC said it has resolved to conduct a comprehensive investigation into every allegation contained in the petition.
Independent Investigator Appointed
Towards unravelling the issues, the board said that it has appointed a sports lawyer, Dr Bob Olukoya of Fort Knight Partners, as the independent investigator. Olukoya’s mandate is 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.
