An Upper Customary Court in Sabon Tasha, Kaduna, has decided that Mrs. Cecilia Bakam’s body must be given back to her family immediately. She passed away in October 2023, but her body was not buried because her family members argued about where she should be laid to rest.
This case is like a fight between following old traditions and respecting new wishes. Mrs. Cecilia wanted something specific for her burial, but her body remained unburied because of this family disagreement.
The judge, Danladi Douglas, explained on Thursday in Kaduna that Cecilia’s body should go to the family elders. He said, according to Bajju customs, these elders decide where she should be buried.
He added, “The other side showed clear evidence that, in Bajju culture, the elders decide the burial place and how it should happen.” Examples of similar situations in the community show that when families follow this tradition, it brings peace and respect to the deceased.
The judge also said that even if Cecilia had a specific wish before she died, the elders have the final decision on where she will be buried. He said, “The elders should get her body right away so they can start planning the burial.”
Douglas noted both sides must follow Bajju customs because they are part of the Bajju community. Holding onto Cecilia’s body for a long time is not allowed by their rules. If other Bajju families followed this, it would go against what they believe in.
The court will meet again about this case on August 1, 2024. The court was dealing with a disagreement between Mr. Emmanuel Bakam, Cecilia’s eldest son, and his siblings. Emmanuel wants to bury his mother following Bajju traditions, which say she should be buried outside of where she lived with her husband.
Bajju is one of the tribes in the Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State. People from this tribe have certain customs they follow when someone dies. An example could be how certain dances or songs performed during the burial bring comfort to grieving families.
The people arguing against Emmanuel, including Hajiya Maryam Doka and other family members, want to respect Cecilia’s last wish. She wanted to be buried in a room next to her late husband. But because this wish was not followed, they didn’t allow Emmanuel and the elders to take her body. This example shows how complicated decisions can be when tradition and personal wishes clash.