The remains of the Senate President in the Second Republic (1979-1983), Joseph Wayas have reportedly been abandoned in a London hospital.

The late d!ed in December 2021 at a London hospital, following a lingering illness, which some family members attributed to poverty.

Family sources that spoke with Daily Trust revealed that they can not cope with maintaining the body of Wayas due to a lack of financial help.

The Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade had, in December 2021 inaugurated an expanded funeral committee.

This was after the state government mandated the then commissioner for health, Dr Betta Edu to oversee his health management in London.

The state government was said to have released some funds to the funeral committee headed by two-time Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi.

But 14 months after his death, findings show that the body of Nigeria’s former number three citizen has been abandoned over funds controversy.

Findings also revealed that the controversy surrounding the funeral funds led to the resignation of key members of the committee.

According to Daily Trust, one of the key members of the funeral committee, former executive secretary of the National Planning Commission and one-time governorship hopeful, Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo, confirmed that he had since left the Committee but did not give reasons.

He also confirmed that the governor made funds available to prosecute the funeral but said the first son of the deceased, Joseph Wayas jr, should be in a better position to explain why the body of his late father has not been interred.

Ugbo reacting to the statement of the lawmaker’s son asking Daily Trust to question the committee said, “He cannot say he does not have an explanation to give about why the funeral is delayed. He is the first son. He should be in charge.”