The High Court has ordered Aga Khan University Hospital to release the remains of a retired Nigerian Air Force officer, but only on strict conditions, after a bitter dispute arose over unpaid medical bills amounting to millions of shillings.
Justice Lawrence Mugambi directed that the body of Air Vice Marshal Terry O. Okorodudu (Ret.), who died on September 9, 2025, be released to his family if his son, Bidemi Okorodudu, either deposits KSh8 million as security or surrenders his passport to the court pending the outcome of the case.
The ruling followed a petition filed by Bidemi, acting as the legal representative of his late father’s estate, accusing the hospital of unlawfully detaining the body as collateral for a disputed bill of KSh9.8 million.
He argued that the practice violated the dignity of the deceased as enshrined in the Constitution and risked triggering diplomatic tension between Kenya and Nigeria.
“The continued detention of the body infringes the inherent dignity of the deceased as guaranteed under Article 28 of the Constitution of Kenya,” the petition stated.
The family also sought court orders to facilitate the repatriation of the body to Nigeria for a military funeral, with the support of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Health, the Department of Immigration, and Parklands Police Station.
Aga Khan University Hospital, however, strongly opposed the plea, insisting the outstanding balance must be secured before release.
Jackson Awuor, the Patient Services Business Department Manager, told the court that the late officer required highly specialized treatment for multiple complications, including heart failure, kidney disease, and pulmonary hypertension.
