A family from Nigeria is crying foul after Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, allegedly detained the body of their loved one, retired Air Vice Marshal Terry O. Okorodudu, over an unpaid medical bill running into millions.
The case has sparked outrage after the officer’s daughter, Bidemi Okorodudu, moved to court demanding the unconditional release of her father’s remains. She argued that keeping the body as collateral for a debt is not only unlawful but also strips the deceased of dignity, which is protected under Article 28 of the Kenyan Constitution.
According to Bidemi, her late father had been receiving treatment at the hospital before he passed away. She claims the hospital had initially promised support but later shifted blame and held on to the body, demanding KSh 8 million in settlement before release.
The family now wants the court to issue urgent orders to free the body, stop the hospital from interfering with funeral plans, and allow them to repatriate the remains to Nigeria for a military burial.
However, Aga Khan University Hospital has defended its actions. In its court response, the facility accused Bidemi of being uncooperative during her father’s treatment, interfering with doctors’ decisions, and later defaulting on a payment arrangement. The hospital also claimed she is now seeking a full waiver of the bill, KSh 70 million in damages, and KSh 2 million in funeral costs.
The hospital insists releasing the body without financial security would cripple its operations, arguing that medical institutions also have rights that must be respected. It has asked the court to compel Bidemi to provide a binding undertaking before the body can be released.
The case has once again ignited debate on the ethics of detaining bodies in Kenyan hospitals. Human rights defenders argue that grieving families should not be subjected to such distress and that hospitals have other legal avenues to recover unpaid bills.
For Bidemi, however, the fight is personal. She maintains that her father deserves to be laid to rest with honor, not held hostage in a foreign land over financial disputes.
