By Milcah Tanimu

A private hospital in Lagos has reportedly withheld the body of former Nigerian boxer Jeremiah ‘Jerry’ Okorodudu, who passed away at the age of 64 on June 28. Okorodudu had been battling foot ulcer and stroke before his demise. Prior to his death, there were reports that he was unable to cover his medical expenses, which impacted his treatment.

On June 22, Okorodudu’s wife, Atinuke, disclosed that her husband owed the hospital. The medical facility demanded immediate payment of a N1 million medical bill, warning that if the payment wasn’t made, Okorodudu would be discharged before the weekend. However, the specific name of the hospital was not revealed, as Atinuke was instructed by the hospital proprietor not to disclose the information.

A Nigerian sports journalist, Raymond Akparhuere, who was close to the ailing boxer, confirmed Okorodudu’s death. Akparhuere stated that the former boxer passed away on Wednesday afternoon, as they were unable to pay the outstanding medical bill.

The late boxer’s wife later confirmed the situation revealing that the hospital was refusing to release Okorodudu’s body until an outstanding N600,000 medical bill was settled.

Jeremiah Okorodudu represented Nigeria in the middleweight category at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games, and he also achieved a gold medal at the Oluyole ’79 National Sports Festival in Ibadan. His medical challenges began in 2020 with a boil that affected his mobility. After a successful surgery at Dans Hospital in Ikorodu, Lagos, his health deteriorated again due to foot ulcer and stroke.