Senate laments abandonment of former senate president Waya’s corpse in London morgue 14 months after death

The Senate expressed its displeasure on Tuesday with Joseph Wayas’s remains continuing to be kept in the mortuary for 14 months after his passing in a London hospital.

Wayas, a senator during the Second Republic, passed away on November 20, 2021, and his remains were placed in the hospital mortuary. He had been hospitalised at the London hospital.

In a motion introduced by Senator Gershom Bassey, the Senate said that the delay in the former Senate President’s burial was embarrassing to the Senate and the Federal Government fourteen months later.

As a result, he demanded that the Federal government urgently transport the deceased’s remains from the mortuary of a London hospital to Nigeria for a respectable burial. He also called for his immortalization.

In order to prevent more shame for the nation, he urged that the Senate swiftly take over the deceased’s funeral arrangements.

Bassey said, “It is very worrisome and embarrassing that 14 months after the death of the former Senate President, his remains still lie in the morgue in the UK.

“The Senate needs to as a matter of urgency, intervene by taking over the burial plans of the deceased.”

Many of the Senators like Jibrin Barau ( APC Kano North ), Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi ( APC Niger North), Uche Ekwunife ( PDP Anambra Central) and Enyinnaya Abaribe ( APGA Abia South), expressed sadness on the development and called on the Senate to liaise with relevant authorities for way out.

The delay in the burial of the former Senate President, 14 months after his death, was stated to be extremely embarrassing for the National Parliament and the Federal Government by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, in his remarks.

He said, “This is not a good commentary on us as a country. Unfortunately, to stop this type of embarrassment, an attempt made last year for Presiding officers of the National Assembly to be given medical support for life by Nigeria was rejected by us during voting on constitution amendments.

“The embarrassment at hand with the Joseph Wayas remains, calls for reflection and I hope the 10th Assembly will do the needful.”