Finally, Ngwuta’s Family Consents To The Burial Date Of Late Ngwuta JSC

The family of late Justice Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, who died recently, has finally consented to the date set for the burial of the deceased jurist.

This is contained in a letter sighted by TheNigeriaLawyer addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria signed by Mr. Stephen Ngwuta and Chief Emmanuel Nwali Ede on behalf of the family

The family, in the letter which is dated April 16 said the consent to the date was as a result of the outcome of the meeting convened by Chief Kanu Agabi burial planning committee.

“We wish to state that Chief Kanu Agabi has since convened a meeting between the burial planning committee and our family and all issues that warranted the earlier communication have been resolved. While both parties acknowledged arrears of information gap, there was some level of misunderstanding on the funding of the burial by the family. The meeting was able to resolve on the role of different actors in the burial.

“Following the resolution, our family has consented to the set date for the burial and resolved to cooperate with the Chief Kanu Agabi burial planning committee and the Ebonyi State burial committee, which our family now have representatives, for better and quicker information flow.

“Accordingly, our family regret the embarrassment the unfortunate publication of the letter would have caused your office and Chief Kanu Agabi burial planning committee. We pray that with our new level of understanding and involvement, the burial will be successfully concluded to the glory of God.” the letter reads in part

Recall that the eminent jurist died in Abuja on March 7, 2021 and a funeral committee headed by Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN was constituted and April 30 was fixed for his burial.

But the deceased’s kindred petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria and copied Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, Kanu Agabi, Ukawu Leaders of Thoughts, Ukawu Town Union, and Stella Maris Catholic Parish, Ukawu, alleging that “strangers” have hijacked the burial programme

They alleged that they were not carried along in the burial arrangements including fixing of date; hence, they threatened not to be part of the activities. They asked that the family be allowed to choose a date for the burial of their son in line with extant customs and tradition.

Promising to forward a suitable date to the CJN within two weeks from the date of their letter, they also demanded that the family be represented in any burial committee constituted by the Supreme Court or at the state level.