The remains of the Late Senate President, Dr. Joseph Wayas, have finally arrived in Nigeria, 33 months after his passing in a London hospital.
Dr. Wayas, who served as Nigeria’s Senate President from October 1, 1979, to December 31, 1983, died on November 30, 2021, at the age of 80.
Wayas’ return marks the end of a prolonged controversy surrounding the location and burial of his body.
While his wife, who passed away 12 days after him, was buried shortly after her death, Wayas’ remains have been kept in a London morgue, leading to speculations and debates about whether he had been secretly interred abroad.
The body was received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 4:30 am on Wednesday by family members, friends, and notable figures from Cross River North Senatorial District, including Senator Jarigbe Agom, Hon. Peter Akpanke, Johnny Agom, SAN, and Dr. Dom Cklaimz Enamhe.
The remains were then transported to the National Hospital in Abuja, where they were deposited in the morgue.
Senator Jarigbe Agom, representing Cross River North, and Hon. Peter Akpanke, representing Obudu, Bekwara Obanlikwu Federal Constituency, expressed their relief and happiness at the body’s return.
“We are grateful that the remains of our dear Dr. Joseph Wayas have finally been brought back to Nigeria. It has been a long and emotional journey for the family and all of us who respected and loved him,” said Senator Agom.
The family of Wayas’ late wife also expressed relief and gratitude to those who facilitated the return of his remains.
Following the deaths of Wayas and his wife, the then-governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade, set up a committee led by former Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi, to oversee the burial arrangements.
The committee was allocated N200 million initially, with a promise of an additional N50 million. Despite these efforts, including a sub-committee headed by former NDLEA Director General Dave Ashang to handle the repatriation, the remains of Wayas remained in London.
The breakthrough came when a group of concerned individuals from Cross River North Senatorial District formed a volunteer group under the banner “Who is Who in Northern Cross River.”
This group, coordinating donations from local indigenes, succeeded in bringing the remains back to Nigeria. The group’s determination ensured that Wayas’ body was returned for a proper burial.
