Thirty three months after his demise, the remains of the late Senate President, Dr. Joseph Wayas, arrived in Nigeria for burial.
on November 30, 2021,
Wayas, who served as Nigeria’s Senate President between October 1, 1979 and December 31,1983, died in a London hospital, aged 80.
His wife too died 12 days later. But while his wife had since been buried, the politician’s corpse had remained in a morgue in London, a development which sparked controversies.
Some persons, who had earlier given up that the late octogenarian’s body had since been secretly interred in London, were surprised to see the remains back in Nigeria almost three years after.
Wayas’ corpse was received at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, at 4:30a.m., yesterday, by his family, friends and some prominent sons and daughters of Cross River North Senatorial District, among who were Senator Jarigbe Agom, Peter Akpanke, Johnny Agom, SAN, and Dr. Dom Enamhe.
As of press time, Wayas’ remains, which were driven straight from the airport to the National Hospital, Abuja, had been deposited at the hospital’s mogue.
Speaking to newsmen after the body was received, Senator Agom, representing Cross River North and Peter Akpanke, representing Obudu, Bekwara Obanlikwu Federal constituency, at the National Assembly, expressed happiness that the body had finally been brought back home.
Also, his late wife’s family, though grieving, expressed relief at the development and appreciated all those who had facilitated the return of his remains.
Recall that when the politician and his wife died, the then governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade’s government immediately set up a committee headed by former Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi, to oversee the burial activities.
