By Lawal Adenike
Justice Christopher Balogun of an Ikeja High Court has explained why he gave an order that the corpse of a former military administrator of Lagos and Imo, Rear Adm. Ndubisi Kanu (rtd) should not be released to his family for burial.
The judge stated his reasons for the refusal of the release of the ex-governor’s remains on Monday.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Justice Balogun had on October 7 given an order that the Nigerian Navy should not release the body of the former Lagos military administrator until otherwise instructed by the court.
The judge had given the order at the hearing of suit filed by one of the deceased wives, Mrs Gladys Kanu against the children of the deceased, the Nigerian Navy and her cowife.
The plaintiff is seeking an order of the court to direct the respondents, their agents or privies, not to threaten her and to allow her prepare properly for the burial which will take place Friday, October 15.
The respondents to the suit includes the Nigerian Navy, Kelly Kanu, Simone Abiona (nee Kanu), Andrey Joe- Ezigbo (nee Kanu), Paul Ndidiamaka Kanu and Karen Johnson (nee Kanu).
Others are Laura Kanu, Jeffery Kanu, Stephen Kanu and Josephine Ndubisi Kanu.
Justice Balogun explained that he gave the order to protect the corpse from getting tampered with, which may occur as a result of Kanu family feud.
He said, “It is for the protection of the body itself so that no one goes to tamper with that body which is to be buried this Saturday
“There is not going to be any change of date of that burial but we’re protecting the body
“That is the only Order I gave so that there will be no intermeddlers and interlopers and going to the Nigerian Navy and saying they were told to come and collect the body and we do not see the body of our dear ex-Governor any longer.
“It is a Protective Order. I also said that of this controversy lingers and there is no proper cohesion among the lawyers to the parties it will cause some confusion in Abia State on the date of the burial.
“I gave a direction and all counsel present said that it was a good advice.
“I am concerned that the body of our ex-Governor is given a befitting burial so no one should tamper with the body.”
Meanwhile, some of the final burial rites of the ex-Lagos Military Administrator which are scheduled to hold outside Lagos will run from October 13 in Imo to October 15 in Abia.
