Help! My police husband’s corpse seized despite paying N12m Lagos hospital bills – Widow

Sandra Osasere, a 33-year-old mother of four, narrates how her husband’s corpse was seized by a hospital and the financial struggles the family faced during his treatment, the lack of support from the police force, and other issues

Could you briefly introduce yourself?

My name is Sandra Osasere. I am 33 years old. I am the widow of late Assistant Superintendent of Police Victor Osasere. He was just promoted to the position of ASP when he died. He was 45 years old when he died and we have four children together.

Can you share the circumstances surrounding your husband’s death?

On November 21, 2024, he was preparing to go to his workplace and was helping me get the children ready for school when he suddenly started shouting, ‘My head, my head!’ and collapsed. I called my neighbours for help, and we rushed him to the police hospital in Ikeja.

When they examined him at the hospital, they said a brain test needed to be done. After the test, we were referred to another hospital. We were taking him to different hospitals because all the government hospitals were on strike.

The first private hospital we took him to asked for N2m as deposit, so we left and took him to the Mainland Hospital in Yaba, where they demanded N1.5m. Eventually, we managed to admit him around 2am. Before the family could raise the N1.5m, my husband was in the ambulance for about two hours.

After admission, they said he was in a coma and needed surgery, and we were asked to pay N3.2m for it. We were promised that he would be fine after the surgery. But he remained the same, and there was no difference after the procedure. That was where he stayed until he finally passed away on December 10,2024.

Did you receive any medical report at the hospital?

They didn’t give me any medical report, but when we asked, they said it might be high blood pressure. Before the operation, they mentioned he was having issues with his head. They told us it was high blood pressure that caused something to burst in his head, which was why they said they needed to carry out surgery.

Was that written officially to the family?

They only said it but didn’t put it in writing.

Has the corpse been released to the family for burial?

They have not released the body. They said it would not be released until we paid the outstanding bill of over N4m. My husband’s family even went there to beg them with N1.5m, but they refused. After spending almost N12m, they still refused to release the corpse, insisting that the remaining N4m be paid.

Since your husband was a police officer, what assistance is the police providing in this matter?

No, we’ve not heard anything from them.

Have you informed the police about it?

Yes, I did when my husband was in a coma. I went to the Commissioner of Police in Lagos and explained everything that happened, but they said there was nothing to be done about it. They later said they would get back to us; but we’ve not heard anything from them since then.

In what way do you think the police can help in this matter?

We need them to help us so that we can at least retrieve my husband’s corpse from the hospital.

How many years did your husband work with the police before his death?

He worked with them for 25 years before his death, and he was just promoted to Assistant Superintendent of Police last year.

What were your husband’s last moments?

He had travelled for a burial and had just returned from Benin, Edo State. Everything he talked about was regarding his late sister, who had passed away. He was saying that he was hurt by her death and would find a way to get those responsible. We were also planning to travel abroad. Those were some of the things he talked about before he died.

Was your late husband’s sister ill before she died?

No, she wasn’t really sick. She had previously battled a stroke, but she had been treated and had recovered. According to what we heard, it happened one midnight when she fell and started shouting that she was seeing something strange, which others could not see.

That was what they told us because we weren’t there when it happened to her. They said she woke up around 1am and was shouting that she was seeing something strange, like a very big bird. After that, she collapsed and began vomiting and defecating on herself. They rushed her to a hospital, but she died the following day.

What did you suspect was responsible?

It was a spiritual attack. The person beside her did not notice anything that she said she was seeing that night.

How much did you pay to the hospital before your husband died?

We spent more than N11m. It was close to N12m.

How is the family currently coping with the situation?

After all the medical bills paid when he was in a coma, the expenses have really affected the family financially. Right now, things are not the same, and we are facing many challenges, especially since the hospital has refused to release the corpse to the family.

It’s not easy for me because the four children are with me now. My husband’s family has really tried, as they have spent a lot already. So, they cannot afford our needs. Since the day I lost my husband, my children have been staying at home. They don’t even go to school anymore.

Are other family members not supporting?

We spent a lot to save my husband’s life when he was still in a coma. They are broke at the moment because they no longer have the money. So, it’s affecting me and the children.

How many surgeries were done on him?

Only one surgery was done, for which we paid N3.2m. Initially, we were told that two surgeries would be performed, but after the first one, we didn’t have enough funds for the second one. So, he passed away after the first surgery.

How are you sorting out school fees for your children?

My children are no longer going to school, and I want the government to help me so that I can send them back to school. Most of their peers are in school, but my children are staying at home because we don’t have the money to send them. They should help me so I can train them properly.

What is the police saying about your late husband’s benefits?

They’ve not done anything about it. While he was in a coma, it was his colleagues who contributed N900,000 to help us. Even his salary has been stopped, as I’ve also stopped receiving alerts. So, we don’t have access to any money.

How do you intend to get his benefits?

I just want the government to intervene in this matter and help us.

What do you do to sustain yourself at the moment?

I was an apprentice in fashion design before the incident happened. I had to relocate from Lagos to Benin after my husband’s death. So, I’m not doing anything at the moment.

Do you have any plan to seek legal advice if the hospital continues to withhold the corpse?

I don’t have the money to take any legal action.