See why an Igbo woman stops late husband’s burial for 2 years after death

The traditional ruler of Umuchu town in Aguata in Anambra State Eastern Nigeria, Igwe Gody Ezechukwu, has lamented over the embarrassing handling of the corpse of a foremost industrialist and illustrious Umuchu son, the late Pius Ezenwajiaku whose corpse has been abandoned in a mortuary for over two years without a befitting burial.

Ezechukwu stated this during the New Yam festival held recently at Umuchu Civic centre.

This followed a suit filed by Ezenwajiaku’s widow, Scola, in Aba High court stopping the burial of her husband who died of undisclosed ailment two years ago.

The late Pius Ezenwajiaku, who was the Director, Star Park Chemical Industries Limited, manufacturer of cosmetic products, had a protracted quarrel with his wife, Scola, which was not resolved before he died.

While the quarrel lingered for years, he fell sick and the wife reportedly did not look after him or reconcile with him before he eventually died.

P.M.NEWS learnt that before his demise, he prepared his Will and shared his properties to his children without giving anything to his wife and constituted Trustees that will manage his properties on behalf of the children.

In the Will, he also stated that if he died, his wife should not be part of his burial or benefit from any of his properties.

The late Ezenwajiaku is from a village called Amanasa and married his wife from another village called Umugama in the same Umuchu community.

The long journey to mortuary started when the family of the late Ezenwajiaku fixed a date for the burial without involving his wife in the entire arrangement according to the wish of the deceased.

Dignitaries, business partners, friends and well wishers were already converging on his village for the burial when, two days to the burial, Scola went and obtained a court order stopping the burial and the court reportedly ordered the owner of the mortuary called
Allied located in Osisioma in Aba not to release the corpse.

The burial arrangement came to an abruptly end and since then, the corpse has been abandoned in the mortuary.

P.M.NEWS gathered that Scola was angry that her late husband sidelined her by writing such Will that excluded her from benefiting from any property and involvement in the burial.

She reportedly complained and said since he did that to her, he would not be buried as far as she was alive.

The embattled couple wedded in Catholic church. The late Ezenwajiaku was a Knight in the Catholic Church and Scola is regarded as a good Christian that attends Mass regularly at Christ the King Catholic Church, CKC, in Aba.

P.M.NEWS learnt that priests and Bishops have waded into the matter to no avail.

Igwe Ezechukwu and his Council of Chiefs in Umuchu community have also tried to settle the matter. But Scola has refused to shift ground.

On the occasion of the recent New Yam celebration in Umuchu, Ezechukwu again, advised the people on the need to love and forgive one another so that peace would prevail in the town and society at large.

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About Unknown

Deji Sadiq, a.k.a DEJI OF LAGOS is a LASU trained Economist turned freelance journalist, a Blogger, an information strategist, a public affairs analyst and a committed activist with a passion for equal opportunities.