Late February last year the Supreme Court of Ghana had by a unanimous decision, upheld the jurisdiction of the an Accra High Court in ordering the release of the body of the late businessman and philanthropist to his family for burial. Mrs. Seinye Lulu-Briggs, widow of the late High Chief Lulu-Briggs, had challenged the jurisdiction of the High Court presided over by Court of Appeal judge, Justice Eric Kyei-Baffour, sitting with additional responsibility as a High Court Judge, to make orders he had hoped that the protracted litigation surrounding the controversial death of the old man, would come to an end.
The late High Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs, allegedly died shortly on arrival in Accra on December, 27, 2018 while travelling with Mrs. Seinye Lulu-Briggs, however litigation between his biological family led by three of his adult sons; (Dumo Lulu-Briggs, Senibo Lulu-Briggs, and Sofiri Lulu-Briggs) and the widow over who has the right to hold funeral rites and bury him, has meant that the body remains in the cold rooms of the Enterprise Funeral Services Ghana Limited at Haatso in Accra. While the widow, has maintained the old man died naturally, the sons suspect otherwise.
Following the ruling of the Ghana apex court, Dumo and the family had taken custody of the remains of their patriarch and series of meetings were held to resolve others issues to ensure he was given a befitting burial. We gathered that the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike played a major role in trying to reconcile Dumo and his kinsmen with the widow. It is however not known whether Mrs Seinye was accorded any role in the burial activities. It was after the resolution that the burial date was announced in January.
At a press conference in January at Abonnema in Asari toru Local Government Area of the State, Sir Ibim Dokubo, who spoke on behalf the Chiefs of the Oluwari Briggs House in Abonnema, said the family of the late businessman was not happy about the undue delay of his burial.
“We register our deep sadness and regret that more than two years after the death of our leader, he is yet to be buried due largely to family crisis.
“The major reason we could not plan the burial ceremony was because for more fifteen months we could not take custody of the mortal remains of High Chief O.B Lulu Briggs because of the series of court cases that denied the family from taking custody of the body. The controversies that surrounded the demise of our paramount head were widely reported in the mass media.
“The overwhelming view was that we needed to wait for the relaxation of the COVID-19 restrictions because High Chief O.B. Lulu Briggs was a man of many parts who had positively touched so many lives.
“He was a public servant, a labour leaders, a politician, a businessman, a philanthropist. It will, therefore, be a disservice to his memory to deny his legion of friends and associates the opportunity to honour him at his funeral.
Also speaking, the son of the deceased , Barrister Dumo Lulu-Briggs, said that he is happy that his father will be finally laid to rest in March. He commended the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, for approving a State burial for his father.