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Nigeria’s Olympic Boxer, Jeremiah Okorodudu is Dead.
Nigeria’s Olympic Boxer, Jeremiah Okorodudu on Wednesday at about 1900 hours died at a Lagos Hospital while awaiting amputation surgery and the hospital authorities have vowed not to release his corpse until outstanding N600,000:00 debt is cleared.
The family of Okorodudu is distressed and his now widow, Adenike Okorodudu is terribly devastated at .the development as only N900,000:00 was paid as at Wednesday morning.
I gathered that his home State, Delta State and even Edo State where he grew up, did not react to pleas for support because of administrative bottle necks as they were waiting for letters to be written before support could be offered. It was only former Deputy Senate President, Senator Omo-Agege who lost election as Delta Gubernatorial Candidate, who sent in N100,000:00 on Tuesday night to shore up the money to N600,000:00 which was deposited to the Hospital account Wednesday morning.
One of the coordinators of SAVE JERRY FUNDS, Segun Olanrewaju told me that the Hospital Management blatantly refused any plea for clemency and therefore refused the release of the corpse of Okorodudu.
According to Olanrewaju most of Okorodudu’s colleagues abroad were only pleading for patience before sending in anything.
It was learnt that the surgery to amputate his leg would have been carried out by noon of Thursday if the funds were available. A Medical Doctor who pleaded to be anonymous said Jerry would have survived if the initial schedule to amputate his leg were carried out last Saturday.
Okorodudu aged 64 (born 24th May 1959) has been down at Dan’s Hospital, 46 Thomas Laniyan, Irawo Busstop, Ikorodu in Lagos Nigeria for two years now with partial stroke and diabetics that brought foot ulcer awaiting amputation.
Jerry as called in boxing circles was a Bronze Medalist at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia from 30th September to 9th October and was controversially edged out at the quarterfinals of the 1984 Olympic Games at Vigil Hills on split decision of 3-2 by North Korean Sun Sho Shp which the Nigerian camp vehemently protested.
That 1984 Olympics was where Nigerian Boxer, Peter Konyegwachie won Silver in the Featherweight category and the Nigerian 4 x 400 Relay Men won Bronze.
Jerry was a Gold Medalist at the National Sports Festival, Oluyole ’79 which was my first professional outing with the Radio Organizations of Nigeria where I was the youngest Commentator under the leadership of both legendary Commentator, Ishola Folorunsho and Earnest Okonkwo and I was Stringer to Walter Batowei who led the Boxing coverage crew.
Jerry had 83 Amateur fights and 40 Professional boxing bouts but BOXING RECORD a publication on world pugilists’ states that Jerry had 21 international Pro bouts with 135 rounds and fought between 1986 and 1992.
Two memorable bouts will refresh boxing enthusiasts in Nigeria which was with Joe Lasisi. The first one at the National Stadium on 28th July 1985 Jerry had to retire with a broken right arm in the 2nd round. I was there and reported it for the Nation’s Model Station Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation OGBC. In the second bout between both boxers weighing 172 Ibs each on 16th December 1988 also at the National Stadium, Lagos Okorodudu claimed he was thumbed by Joe Lasisi but the score card read 68-65; 67-66 and 66-67 in favor of Lasisi.
Jerry told the media he was inspired to go into boxing from secondary school at Benin City in Nigeria through the brilliance of the man “that flies like a Butterfly and stings like a Bee”, Muhammed Ali who he never met.
You may still reach his wife, Adenike on +2348084200018 or send your token to his bank account: Jeremiah Okorodudu, Account Number 0011203501 Eco Bank at least for his corpse to be released to the family.
Eniola Olatunji
Former Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has shared an amusing anecdote about the unique injury treatment preferred by his Nigerian ex-teammates, Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi.
Iheanacho and Ndidi became integral members of the Foxes squad after joining in 2017, playing a crucial role in the club’s historic 2021 FA Cup victory.
The duo shared a strong bond with Vardy during their time at the King Power Stadium, often engaging in light-hearted banter with their teammates.
Vardy, a Leicester City legend after 13 years with the club, departed last summer for Serie A side Cremonese. Iheanacho and Ndidi have also since moved on from the Foxes.
Speaking on a recent podcast, Vardy recounted how the Super Eagles stars had a peculiar remedy for minor injuries.
He explained that Iheanacho and Ndidi would insist on using a special “juju cream” brought back from Nigeria, refusing any other oils or balms offered by the club’s medical staff.
“They used to get injured, just little knocks, then they’d go back to Nigeria for one day literally, come back, and then they’ve got a nice big tub of juju cream,” Vardy said.
“That was the only thing that the masseuses were allowed to massage on the injured areas. They used to tell us that they used to get it from a Nigerian witch doctor.”
While Vardy’s story adds a humorous, if slightly controversial, layer to the players’ time at the club, the “juju cream” was likely part of a running joke.
Ndidi later clarified on social media that the substance was simply local shea butter, known as ‘ori’ in Nigeria.
Some aspirants loyal to Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who failed to secure the All Progressives Congress (APC) tickets in the recently concluded National Assembly primaries, have approached the court to challenge the outcome of the exercise.
The aggrieved aspirants are challenging the APC National Working Committee (NWC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the results of the primaries and the list of candidates submitted by the party to the electoral body.
Report quoted sources within the party as saying the aspirants decided to seek judicial redress after expressing dissatisfaction with the outcome of the primaries.
The aspirants have reportedly engaged the services of the law firm of Remi Olatubora, SAN, to challenge the outcome of the exercise, the report also mentioned.
Those involved include Gbenga Elegbeleye (Ondo North Senatorial District), Dr Taiwo Fasoranti (Ondo Central Senatorial District), Leke Akingboye (Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency), Rasaq Obe (Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency), Kayode Ijalana (Owo/Ose Federal Constituency), Oyerinmade Matthew (Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency), and Olumuyiwa Daramola (Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency).
The legal action has reportedly generated concerns among some party stakeholders, who fear it could affect the APC’s preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has slammed the Federal Government over its gifts of houses to judges.
Speaking at the Housing TV Africa on Thursday, Falana demanded the provision of the law that stipulated such a gesture.
He charged the Federal Government to also build houses for university professors and other civil and public servants, noting that what is good for the goose is equally good for the gander.
“”We have got to a stage in the country where we have to challenge the special privileges given to the rich and top public officers in the country.
“I was very sad when I saw that the Federal Government was handing over the keys of houses to judges, and I asked myself, ‘Under what law are we operating?’ Because it’s discriminatory and illegal.
“You treat everyone equally in our country. So you can’t take out judges. Judges are entitled to accommodation by the way. They must live comfortably and we’ll secured.
“But, other citizens must be equally provided for. If you don’t do it, you can be challenged, and that is going to happen very soon because what is good for the goose is good for the gander,” he said.
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