The burial ceremony of the late Igbo business man, Nze Jerome EkwunifeAtusiaka, aka,,Onyibo, which was put on hold for some time, has finally been concluded, and going by the new burial plan, the ceremony is expected to be in top gear by the time this paper is out.
In a release that was signed by the family of the late business mugul, there was a mass held in his honour at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area, at 5.00pm on Thursday, August 19, 2010. There was also a Christian wake keep at the family compound in the evening of the same date. On Friday, August 20, 2010 the corpse of the late business man was taken to his home town, Nkpologwu, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, in a motorcade. At 10.00am there was a mass, held at St. Michael Catholic Church, Nkpologwu.
The statement further revealed that on the same Friday, August 20, the body of late Jerome Atusiakawasintered at his compound in Nkpologwu at 12.00 noon. On Saturday, August 21, 2010, there will be friends and in-law visit, while a thanksgiving mass will be held in his honour on Sunday, August 22, 2010.
Late Mr. Jerome EkwunifeAtusiaka was, before his demise, a well-known trader in Boji-Boji metropolis. On Saturday, October 24, 2009, he was abducted by some persons as he was moving along Memeh, by Convent Street inside his vehicle, in company of one of his sons and a business partner. But before his release, one of his children was called to go to a bush behind Faith in God filling station, situated along the new Lagos- Benin expressway, in company of some other persons, where they saw the corpse of his father that was buried in a shallow grave. Weeks after his kidnap and eventual death, his remains were deposited at the Central Hospital mortuary, as investigations continued on the matter.
It could be recalled that in the second week of July, 2010, the late business man was to be taken home by the family members for burial, but was eventually put on hold; due to some developments that must be addressed by family members and elders of Nkpologwu, where the late business man, who was a traditional title holder came from. It was after the matters had been addressed, that a new burial date was fixed. Late Mr. Jerome AtusiakaEkwunife was described by his friends and colleagues in the trading business, as a peace-loving, gentle and kind-hearted man. Many of them who expressed shock over his death, said that he will be greatly missed; and that the burial ceremony will be well attended, considering the number of friends and well-wishers of the family.
The 66 years old Jerome Atasiaka, alias Onyibo was survived by one wife, many children and other relations.
Ika Weekly use the opportunity to commiserate the family.
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