Public Outcry: Irrua Specialist Hospital Releases Corpse Of 15-Year-Old Over N1.8m Bill
By DADA AYOKHAI
IRRUa, EDO STATE – The management of Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, ISTH has released the corpse of a 15-year-old boy to his family after it was withheld over an outstanding medical bill of N1.8 million.
The deceased, an indigene of Etsako West LGA, was buried on Tuesday in his village amid tears from family members and sympathizers.
Speaking through a family member, the father, Mr. Moses Eluniamien Ikhemien, a staff of Etsako West LGA, thanked the hospital for its magnanimity and appreciated his colleagues for the moral and financial support rendered during the ordeal.
BorderlineNews24 had earlier reported the family’s agony. According to Mr. Moses, he took his son to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, after noticing a swollen stomach and severe pain.
Following diagnosis and a few days of treatment, UBTH referred the boy to Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital. He was diagnosed with liver cancer and placed on admission on July 2, 2026. He died on July 21, 2026.
After mourning, Mr. Moses made arrangements to take the body home for burial. However, the hospital, which had deposited the corpse in its mortuary, withheld it over the N1.8 million bill allegedly incurred during the 19 days of treatment.
The father said the short period of admission had already cost him a fortune in drugs and other expenses outside the hospital bill.
Colleagues of the distraught council worker said they visited the hospital to negotiate and offer support. They alleged that hospital officials refused to entertain them and claimed the actual bill was “over N3 million,” adding that reducing it to N1.8 million was an act of magnanimity.
Mr. Moses said he is currently indebted to many people who supported him during his son’s treatment and does not know where to get the money demanded to secure the release of the corpse.
The incident has sparked concerns among residents and civil servants over hospital policies on the detention of corpses and the rising burden of medical costs on families.
Efforts to get ISTH management to comment on the matter were unsuccessful as of press time.
Public Outcry: Irrua Specialist Hospital Releases Corpse Of 15-Year-Old Over N1.8m Bill
