Former Commonwealth secretary-general and chairman of The Patriots, Chief Emeka Anyaoku and the president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, have been named the chairpersons of the National Burial Committee of the legal luminary and statesman, Professor Ben Nwabueze (SAN).
The family also named Senator Ben Ndi Obi vice chairperson and Ambassador Okey Emuchay, secretary of Ohanaeze and Mr Olawale Okunniyi, secretary of The Patriots, as co-secretaries while Mr Damien Obiefule will serve as the assistant secretary.
In a statement signed by the head of the family, Dr Eni Nwabueze, he said the burial activities for the revered constitutional lawyer, will take place from February 26 to March 9, 2024.
The funeral committee also included former finance minister, Dr Kalu Idika Kalu of The Patriots; Dr Tunji Abayomi, Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN), Barrister Chijioke Okoli (SAN), Mr Ikechukwu Amaechi, Mr Arinze Oduah, Chief Ben Egonu and Professor Ikenna Alumona.
Other members of the committee are Chief Chukka Ifejika, Professor Amucheazi, speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon Somto Udeze.
Mrs. Nkechi Chukwurah, Nnenna Okwuosa and Jenkins Alumona, vice president, Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) will represent the family.
Nwabueze, a former minister of education, died on October 29, 2023 at the age of 92. He studied in the United Kingdom and became a lecturer in 1962 at the University of Lagos. He later joined the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Between 1970 and 1976, Nwabueze taught at the Law Faculty of the University of Zambia. He was involved in drafting Nigeria’s 1979 Constitution and received the Nigerian National Merit Award in 1980.
