The Anambra State Government has pressed that its burial laws are still in force and has therefore warned residents in the state against violating them.
The state government made this known in a statement signed by Sir Paul Nwosu, Commissioner for Information, on Friday.
Nwosu stated that the House of Assembly of Anambra State had on April 9, 2019, passed the Anambra State Burial/Funeral Ceremonial Control Law.
The statement read, “It has come to the attention of the government that the burial law of the state is only observed in the breach by Ndi-Anambra. The government hereby wishes to re-emphasize that the law is still in existence and applicable to burial and funeral ceremonies in Anambra State.
“The House of Assembly of Anambra State had on April 9, 2019 enacted the Anambra State Burial/Funeral Ceremonial Control Law. The law states that the burial/funeral ceremonies of an indigenous deceased person should commence with the registration and payment of N1,500 to the town union.
“No person shall erect any billboard, banner, or posters of the deceased. Persons are allowed to erect only directional posts. No directional post shall be erected before seven days to the burial date and should be removed not later than seven days after the burial date.”
He cautioned that any person who contradicts the provisions shall upon conviction pay a fine of N100,000 or go to jail for six months, or both.
He added, “No person shall deposit a corpse in the mortuary beyond two months from the date of death. Any person who contravenes this shall pay a fine of N100,000 or serve an imprisonment term of six months, or both.
“No person is allowed to block a road for any burial except with permission from the appropriate local government authority.
“No person shall publicly display a casket for fabrication and sale in the state, and any person who contravenes is liable to pay a fine of N50,000 or go to jail for one month, or both.
“There shall be no second funeral rites after burial except in the case of legacy.
“There shall be no wake-keep of any kind for any deceased person in the state. All vigil-mass/service of songs/religious activity for the deceased before burial shall terminate by 9 p.m.
“There shall be no food, drink, live band, cultural entertainers during and after any vigil-mass/service of songs/religious activity for the deceased.”
