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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
Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court has adjourned the bail hearing of former Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, to the first week of June, 2026.
El-Rufai was arraigned last week on an amended nine-count charge bordering on alleged fraud and abuse of office, filed by the Independent Corupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
He appeared before the court last Tuesday for hearing of his bail application.
However, the presiding judge, Darius Khobo, adjourned ruling on the application to Tuesy April 21, 2026.
The former governor was, last week, granted bail by a Federal High Court in Kaduna in another corruption case instituted against him by the ICPC.
Justice Rilwanu Aikawa admitted El-Rufai to bail in the sum of N200 million.
The judge had ordered that El-Rufai remain in ICPC custody pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.
As part of the conditions, the defendant was barred from making public comments on the case and must attend all court sittings.
However, speaking after the court session on Tuesday, counsel to the former governor, Ukpon Akpan, said the bail application had been adjourned.
He kicked against the lingering adjournment, saying it is politically motivated.
Barcelona are set to let five key players leave the club this summer, as they plan a squad overhaul, according to reports.
The Blaugrana are currently sitting nine points clear at the top of LaLiga, and are set to romp to a second consecutive title ahead of rivals Real Madrid.
However, after more disappointment in the Champions League, in which they were dumped out by Atletico Madrid, Hansi Flick and the board at Barcelona are preparing to rebuild their squad at the end of the campaign.
Spanish media outlet Marca are reporting that there are five players who have ‘completed a cycle at the club’ and will likely be moved on come the summer.
Marcus Rashford is one of those players. Barcelona can buy the 28-year-old, who is on loan from Manchester United, for £26million under the terms of the deal, but reports have emerged that they are not willing to exercise that option.
The 28-year-old has contributed 12 goals and 13 assists this season to help the Catalan giants run rampant in LaLiga, and as recently as last week, it was believed that Barca would like to keep him.
However, they have made a failed bid to renegotiate the £26m fee with United, who are refusing to budge on the clause which expires on June 15 – four days after the World Cup kicks off in North America.
It means there is a strong chance that Rashford will be forced to return to his boyhood club following England duty if he is selected for the tournament this summer.
Another attacker who seems set for the exit door is none other than Robert Lewandowski.
The Pole, who joined Barcelona from Bayern Munich in 2022, is out of contract in the summer, and there has been little indication that he will sign a new deal at the club.
It is believed that both Lewandowski’s ‘age and recent physical problems’ have thrust his future at Barca into doubt.
Barcelona are said to be looking at freeing up some financial legroom, and for that reason, they want to offload stars on big wage packets.
One of those players is Frenkie de Jong, who is understood to be on just under €400,000 (£348,000) per week, and Marca suggest that he could be sold to ‘ease the financial burden’ on the Spanish giants.
Former Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen and La Masia graduate Marc Casado are also said to be on the proverbial chopping block.
Christensen played 161 games in six seasons with the Blues before making the move to Catalonia in 2022 on a four-year deal. That deal is now set to expire, and there are no plans for an extension at this moment in time.
Casado, however, still has two years left on his contract, but due to a lack of minutes, could be forced to find a new club.
The defensive midfielder has failed to break into the team ahead of Pedri, Eric Garcia, and Gavi, and has started only one of the last eight LaLiga games.
Kimberly Daniels, a United States Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives for District 14, has alleged that Nigeria’s minister of state for defense, Bello Matawalle, attempted to bribe a US official to deflect the narrative of the United World Congress of Diplomats, UN-WCD, report.
The lawmaker made the claim in a viral video released on her official Facebook account on Monday.
She said Matawalle’s alleged move was to cover up the UN-WCD report on Christian genocide in Nigeria, which indicted him.
Daniels insisted that no amount of pressure can silence her stand against the killings of Christians in Nigeria.
“A US elected official was offered money by Nigeria’s minister of state defense, Bello Matawalle, to change the narrative of the UN-WCD Christian genocide in Nigeria report,” she said in the viral video.
Recall that Daniels, who doubled as the chairperson of UN-WCD, had called for President Bola Tinubu to remove Matawalle over alleged complicity in the killings in Plateau, Benue, Kaduna, and other parts of Nigeria.
Matawalle is yet to officially reply the US lawmaker.
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