Justice Ngwuta’s Family Disowns Burial Programme

All is not well with the funeral programme released in respect
of Justice Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta of the Supreme Court of Nigeria,
who died recently, as the Ngwuta Njoku family of Amofia Ukawu in
Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

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

But his kindred have 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 people they called strangers have
hijacked the burial programme.

Daily
Sun^[1], Not
TheNigerialawyer exclusively gathered that the family’s grouse was
their not being carried along in the burial arrangements including
fixing of date; hence, they threatened not to be part of the
activities.

A petition dated April 9, 2021, by the chief mourner, Stephen
Ngwuta, Chief Emmanuel Nwali Ede, and eight others, asked that the
family be allowed to choose the 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.

They also thanked the CJN and Agabi, a close friend of Ngwuta
for their support in the family’s trying time.

Part of the petition stated: “While our family was still
consulting and trying to reach a decision on the traditional rites
for the burial, suddenly, a delegation of five people came into
Ebonyi and visited the family house of Justice Ngwuta even without
prior notice to the family. The delegation which was led by someone
who was said to be a retired Director of the Supreme Court, one Mr.
Unaigwe and one Mrs Okeke only came to give information on
concluded arrangements without the involvement of our family.

“The next thing we heard from another source was that date of
burial was already fixed for 30th April, 2021. We have not received
any formal communication from the Supreme Court of Nigeria or any
representation from the Court on the burial. While our family is
still considering a suitable date in line with our customs and
tradition, some individuals in Abuja are planning and circulating
notice of burial that we have no input.”

All is not well with the funeral programme released in respect
of Justice Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta of the Supreme Court of Nigeria,
who died recently, as the Ngwuta Njoku family of Amofia Ukawu in
Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

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

But his kindred have 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 people they called strangers have
hijacked the burial programme.

Daily
Sun^[1], Not
TheNigerialawyer exclusively gathered that the family’s grouse was
their not being carried along in the burial arrangements including
fixing of date; hence, they threatened not to be part of the
activities.

A petition dated April 9, 2021, by the chief mourner, Stephen
Ngwuta, Chief Emmanuel Nwali Ede, and eight others, asked that the
family be allowed to choose the 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.

They also thanked the CJN and Agabi, a close friend of Ngwuta
for their support in the family’s trying time.

Part of the petition stated: “While our family was still
consulting and trying to reach a decision on the traditional rites
for the burial, suddenly, a delegation of five people came into
Ebonyi and visited the family house of Justice Ngwuta even without
prior notice to the family. The delegation which was led by someone
who was said to be a retired Director of the Supreme Court, one Mr.
Unaigwe and one Mrs Okeke only came to give information on
concluded arrangements without the involvement of our family.

“The next thing we heard from another source was that date of
burial was already fixed for 30th April, 2021. We have not received
any formal communication from the Supreme Court of Nigeria or any
representation from the Court on the burial. While our family is
still considering a suitable date in line with our customs and
tradition, some individuals in Abuja are planning and circulating
notice of burial that we have no input.”