Former Nigerian Senator Ibrahim Musa Kontagora has died in Abuja after a private hospital reportedly declined to perform a critical surgery due to his inability to pay the full medical bill.
Kontagora, who represented Niger North Senatorial District from 2011 to 2015, died at Nizamiye Hospital in the Federal Capital Territory. According to his family, the hospital demanded full payment of a $30,000 bill before proceeding with the surgery, but the former lawmaker was only able to deposit $15,000 at the time.
“Hospital officials said they would treat him as soon as the remaining balance came in,” a family member told Peoples Gazette. Efforts to raise the remaining amount were made, but “by the time it came in, it was already too late,” the source added.
A spokesperson for the hospital confirmed that its policy requires full payment before treatment but offered no apology or responsibility for the incident.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago was among those who reportedly contributed toward raising the funds for the surgery. Other political figures, including Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, have expressed condolences to the family.
The former senator, known for his loyalty to the late President Muhammadu Buhari and service under the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), is survived by his wife and children.
The Niger State Government, in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Usman, confirmed the lawmaker’s death, saying:
“The Senator Ibrahim died today (Thursday) in Abuja after a brief illness, leaving behind a legacy of dedicated service to his people and the nation at large.”
Usman also expressed the government’s sorrow over his death and extended condolences to his family and constituents.
The late senator was buried on Thursday at the National Mosque in Abuja, in accordance with Islamic rites.
