Reprieve has finally found the family of renowned boxer, Jeremiah Okorodudu who sadly passed away on Wednesday at an Ikorodu based hospital, after suffering from acute diabetes.
Newspread learnt that Okorodudu had died while awaiting an amputation surgery which was triggered by complications arising from his dietetic state. Sadly, when the Olympian passed on, staff of Dan’s Hospital in Ikorodu held on to his corpse pending the settlement of accumulated bill owed the facility.
It was a big blow, his wife, Adenike said. She also narrated how he had been scheduled to undergo the amputation last Saturday but was unable to because the family couldn’t raise the ₦1.5 million. A day before his passing, they had only deposited N900,000 and the hospital scheduled the operation for Thursday morning; but he gave up the ghost at about 19:00 hours on Wednesday.
“He is dead now but we still need to pay N600,000 to get his body out of the hospital,” Adenike had cried.
Even at that, the family was then refused the removal of his corpse until they had cleared the remaining bill of N600,000.
The Obviously devastated family through the SAVE JERRY FUNDS explained that even before his passing they had gone to the Edo and Delta state governments respectively to ask for donations. However, due to the usual government bureaucracy and bottlenecks, they had to do what was expected.
While still on the process, the Vice President, Nigeria Boxing Federation, Azania Omo-Agege gave N100,000 to the family, according to Segun Olanrewaju, the coordinator of the SAVE JERRY FUNDS. He further stated that many of Okorodudu’s colleagues and friends abroad kept pleading for patience.
Notwithstanding, after the family made another passionate plea, following the demise of their loved one, a group that goes by the name Family United By Sports (FUBS) led by Godwin Enakhena, came forward and offset the bill.
While confirming his death, the Secretary-General, Nigeria Boxing Board of Control and the President, West Africa Boxing Union, Remi Aboderin said: “It is unfortunate that he died this way, and I am actually lost for words. May his soul rest in peace”.
Understandably, no plans for the burial of the famous Boxer has been announced.
Okorodudu is best remembered as one of Nigeria’s representative at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games. He competed in the middleweight boxing category.
Also in 1979 he won gold at the Oluyole National Sports Festival in Ibadan, Oyo state.