London Morgue Demands £6,710 for Release of Late Senate President Wayas' Remains

London Morgue Demands £6,710 for Release of Late Senate President Wayas' Remains

Revelations have emerged regarding the prolonged stay of the late former Senate President, Dr. Joseph Wayas' remains in a London morgue, as a report by Justice Maurice Odey Eneji, Chairman of the Joe Wayas' Burial Fact Finding Committee, sheds light on the situation. Dated February 27, 2024, the report unveils a startling demand by the morgue for £6,710 (equivalent to N13,366,320) from the family before granting access to the deceased.

According to the report, the morgue managers justified the demand as covering maintenance costs and general charges incurred during the two-year period in which the body has been held. The committee, comprising elders from the Cross River northern district, undertook the task of verifying the availability and condition of the body, with only two individuals, Ms. Donna Wayas and Mrs. Echiko Julie Odey, gaining access to ascertain the state of the remains.

Dr. Joseph Wayas, who served as Senate President from 1979 to 1983, passed away on November 30, 2021, in a London hospital after a prolonged illness. The delay in his burial stemmed from a family crisis following his demise, despite the release of N200 million by the Cross River State government for repatriation and burial expenses.

Justice Eneji's report highlights the committee's proactive efforts in addressing the situation, emphasizing the need to raise an additional £60,478 (approximately N120,934,992) to settle outstanding debts, including the cost of repatriating the body to Nigeria for burial. Additionally, an appeal has been launched to raise funds for this purpose.

While acknowledging the role of both state and federal governments in previous commitments toward the burial expenses, the committee underscores the urgency of honoring Dr. Wayas' legacy with a dignified burial, free from the complexities that have delayed the process thus far. A key committee member emphasized the need for official communication to both levels of government to expedite the burial proceedings, recognizing Dr. Wayas' contributions to the nation and the imperative of according him the respect befitting his stature as a statesman.

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