A London morgue the place the stays of former Senate President, late Dr Joseph Wayas, is stored, has collected the sum of £6,710, amounting to N13,366,320, from members of his household, earlier than permitting them entry to the physique.
This was disclosed in a report by Justice Maurice Odey Eneji, Chairman of Joe Wayas’ Burial Truth Discovering Committee.
The report is dated 27 February 2024.
The report mentioned the morgue managers had insisted on the quantity, representing price of upkeep of the physique and normal costs for over two years that the physique has been stored there.
The committee, made up of elders within the Cross River northern district, wanted to establish that the physique was accessible, and what state it was in.
Wayas’ daughter, based mostly in Nottingham, UK, Ms Donna Wayas, and one Mrs Echiko Julie Odey, had been the 2 people who had entry to sight and verify the state of the physique.
Late Wayas, born 21 Might 1941, died on 30 November 2021 in a london hospital after a lingering illness.
He was Senate President from 1979 to 1983.
Former governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade, first managed his well being situation, and when he died, the state authorities launched N200 million for repatriation of the physique and burial.
Nonetheless, quickly after, a household disaster ensued which delayed the funeral.
Within the report dated February 27, Justice Eneji mentioned the committee has been very proactive, assembly usually and is dedicated to making sure that the physique is repatriated for the burial.
Nonetheless, he mentioned they had been nonetheless in want of an additional £60,478, that’s, N120,934,992, and have launched a passionate attraction in the direction of elevating the quantity.
“According to burial committee’s settlement with Ms Donna Wayas, we have to increase and remit/switch to Donna the sum of £60,478 to offset all excellent indebtedness, inclusive of price of repatriation of the corpse to Nigeria for burial.
“We additionally want to boost and refund the sum of £7,210 paid on our behalf to the morgue managers in London,” Justice Eneji added.
In the meantime, members of the Truth Discovering Committee have agreed that they need to enable each the state authorities and Nationwide Meeting to play their elements.
“Each the state and federal governments could have dedicated funds for this goal prior to now however he (late Wayas) has not but been buried.
“He isn’t in any manner answerable for the circumstances resulting in the delay of his burial, neither does the delay detract from what he was in, and for, Nigeria.
“I feel that now that the complexities surrounding his dying and burial have been unravelled, our statesman is entitled to, and needs to be given, the burial that befits his standing by each the federal and state governments.
“I feel that we must always talk formally to them that each one the knots have been loosened and all is now set for the burial as quickly as it’s handy for presidency,” key member of the committee, who didn’t want to be named, mentioned.
