The ongoing dispute over professional boxing licensing in Nigeria has taken a dramatic new turn as Dr. Kenndric Atum-Ra, Principal of CPDE Media Group, has come forward with explosive allegations and documentary evidence aimed at refuting recent statements made by Aboderin Remi , the Secretary General of the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBBOFC), and defending the integrity of the Nigerian Boxing Federation (NBF).
In a detailed statement, Dr. Atum-Ra clarified the nature of his operations in Nigeria, drawing a clear distinction between his corporate entities and dismantling what he describes as a campaign of blackmail orchestrated by Aboderin Remi.
Clearing the air on Licensing and Corporate Structure
At the center of the controversy is the assertion that the NBF issued a license to an American "gangster."
Dr. Atum-Ra firmly corrected this narrative, stating that he is not a licensed promoter with the NBF. Instead, the licensed entity is CPDE Media GRP AFK LTD, a Nigerian-registered company managed by its executives, “the Nigerian sector which has a board consisting of more than seven Nigerian business men and women with understanding of the culture, boxing and needs of people inside Nigeria”.
Dr. Atum-Ra explained facts contradicts the notion that the NBF acted recklessly, as “the NBBofC themselves previously found us fit to operate in Nigeria”!
A history of partnership, betrayal
The root of the current feud, according to Dr. Atum-Ra, lies not in the NBF’s operations, but in a failed business relationship with Aboderin Remi, the General Secretary of the NBBofC.
He detailed how the CPDE Media Group had previously engaged in business dealings with Aboderin, who facilitated professional boxing licenses and provided access to Nigerian boxers for management.
Dr. Atum- Ra explained how CPDE has invested more than $250,000 usd to be scammed and allegedly defrauded by the NBBofC under the leadership of President, Dr. Rafiu Oladipo and General Secretary Aboderin Remi
“Aboderin Remi granted us permission to operate, gave staff licenses and gave us the protocols to operate while facilitating all of our activities “
Dr. Atum-Ra stated “CPDE complied with all regulations asked and paid all fees necessary. It was a standard partnership, which he also extended to other foreigners.
"When the relationship soured, Aboderin Remi allegedly revoked the company’s ability to function, but this was a joint tactic by a police officer who was made to be our mandatory co-promoter representative from beginning by the President and General secretary of the NBBofC named Obinna Jospeh Matthews.
"This action, was retaliatory and calculated as parties mentioned above called it operation NO MORE CPDE IN NIGERIA creating a group chat calling me and the company representatives scammers and saying all our contracts will not be honored."
He said CPDE Media GRP AFK LTD, already a legitimate entity, turned to the NBF to continue its professional boxing promotion business without the perceived interference and scams they allegedly experienced under Aboderin Remi’s watch.
Revealing the evidence: Over $250,000 usd in transactions
To substantiate his claims, Dr. Atum-Ra has provided a trail of documentary evidence. This includes detailed financial transaction receipts showing the flow of money between CPDE and directly General Secretary of NBBofC Aboderin Remi and co-conspirators.
The transactions cover a wide range of expenses, including:
• Fees paid to Aboderin Remi to secure boxers.
• Training camp fees and salaries for professional boxers.
• Joint promotional events conducted in partnership with Aboderin's licensed promoters.
He also confirmed that BoxRec records serve as public testimony to their business partnership in joint professional boxing promotional events.
Dr. Atum-Ra revealed CPDE has invested over $250,000 USD in Nigerian professional boxing, all under the supervision of the NBBofC and specifically in partnership with Aboderin Remi and Obinna Jospeh Matthews .
"Why will Remi deny our partnership just because I found out he has been scamming CPDE, collecting money under pretense to secure management deals and pay for training sections? He is only angry that we withdrew from the partnership and moved to a transparent body like the NBF,” Dr. Atum-Ra said.
“CPDE is the acronym for Car Pe Di ‘Em which means in latin Seize The Day, we are a company of American Professional Athletes and Military veterans , I’m specifically honoured to be the chairman. It was my idea to come invest inside Nigerian once I found out both of my mother and dad are more than 35% Nigerian”.
Dr. Atum-Ra presented voice notes from Aboderin Remi and Obinna Jospeh Matthews which were assurances of their deals and a referral to Matthew Joseph Obinna of Wise Man Entertainment a Promoter and Nigerian Police Officer as a "safeguard" for their work in Nigeria.
Dr. Atum-Ra stated that Aboderin Remi and Obinna Joseph Matthews even sent Nigerian identifications to prove their legitimacy, which built the trust of CPDE.
"Yes, I grew up in gang activity ; farm life to city life as you say an American Gangster" – Addressing the past.
Directly confronting the allegations regarding his past, Dr. Atum-Ra made an open and honest admission. "Yes, I am what is called in Nigerian an American Gangster. Yes, I have done a lot of things in my past, I’m not the happiest about and I spent five years in county jail fighting for my freedom and adjusting my thought process.
"Today, I use my influence and understanding of the world for community growth and gang intervention, hoping I can leave a legacy that speaks for its self. Saying I made my mark on the community in a positive way that transformed lives and uplifted people!”
However, Dr. Atum-Ra rejected the idea that someone’s past doesn’t defines the present and cannot be used as a weapon .
Dr. Atum-RA stated “when God helped me out of my toxic lifestyle and jail humbled me, I decided to start a new life. Boxing is one ways I found I could start afresh as a changed person.
"I made poor choices in the past and use every chance in my new lifestyle to grow and become a better version of myself, channeling more energy into being part of the solutions, attempting to motivate positive changes in the community where I’m grateful to say professional boxing has greatly helped me, despite the many shortcomings that has faced CPDE.
"What most people don’t know only staff is my wife left me due to all the money I personally invested in Nigeria and was defrauded she didn’t understand why was I spending so much time and money in a country that she said and has proven to defraud me consistently, I told her I wasn’t gonna give up on the youth and wish someone would have had more patience with me. I’ve spent many nights in the hospital due to high blood pressure even had a few strokes, but I’m still standing and with great spirits about what the future holds inside Nigeria.“
Dr. Atum-Ra argued that “Aboderin Remi is weaponizing my shortcomings In my past because he cannot fight me on the merits of the business disputes , and this joint witch hunt of co-conspirators of promoters and NBBofC officials are tactics to circumvent what is on ground.
"In the courts , please see attached court complaints that reflect a pattern of what in the USA we call RACKETEERING, which has put the entire reputation of all inside Nigeria at great risk ! If one doesn’t know Racketeering is an ongoing, coordinated criminal enterprise operated for financial profit with a long history of events that relate back to a common source in this case the NBBofC and host of co-conspirators still being added to detailed court records “.
Dr. Atum-RA stated “the NBF professional board is cleaning the mess up and restoring boxing to global standards”.
Calls for justice and defense of the NBF
Dr. Atum-Ra stated “CPDE and affiliates have called on the Nigerian government to intervene for help with accountability to safeguard that nobody ever experience this again, as the NBBofC is still conducting fights, endangering young men and women with out any standards or regulations. Despite the NBBofC being denied ability to register fights with box rec or fight fax, the recording agency for all of majority combat sports, the NBBofC still seeks to manipulate the youth there labours will be records while defrauded people daily.”
Dr Atum-Ra stated” please take time to review the court petition attached. It's just sad the risk and danger the young men and women have faced under these individuals of NBBofC President, Dr. Rafiu Oladipo, General Secretary, Aboderin Remi and Promoter / Police Officer, a sworn servant of Nigeria, Obinna Jospeh Matthews “!
Dr. Atum-Ra ended his statement by fiercely defending the NBF against what he describes as a smear campaign.
“Aboderin Remi is angry that the NBF professional board and their members are exposing the crimes and illegal activities that have been running for years. They see me as a target to tarnish the good deeds of the NBF who is reforming boxing in Nigeria. The NBBOFC must be stopped as they are endangering innocent Nigerian boxers' lives, scamming them their hard labour, manipulating stakeholders, and actually thought they could scam American citizens and go free.”
