“Her body is still in the mortuary” – Man cries out as in-laws demand marriage before burial

A Nigerian man has sparked reactions online after sharing his dilemma following the death of his partner, whose family has allegedly refused to allow her burial unless he formally marries her even in death.

The story was shared on Facebook by I AM Agatha, where the man opened up about his situation and sought advice from the public.

Relationship Without Formal Marriage

According to the man, he and his late partner were both from Imo State but had lived in Lagos for over three decades.

Despite raising a family together, they never formalized their union traditionally or legally.

He explained that their five children were born and raised in Lagos and have little connection to their hometown.

Family Demands and Financial Struggles

The man revealed that his partner passed away two months ago and her body has remained in the mortuary since then due to her family’s demands.

He said the family insists he must “marry” her before they can proceed with the burial, a requirement he claims he cannot afford.

He also noted that his late partner was the primary provider for the family, making the situation even more difficult.

Considering Burial Without Consent

Faced with the delay and financial pressure, the man said he is now considering burying her in Lagos without her family’s approval, but is unsure of the possible consequences.

He appealed to the public for guidance on what to do next.

In his words: “I and my late wife the mother of my children (I honestly don’t even know how best to address her now, because we were never married traditionally or legally) are both from Imo State.

“We have lived in Lagos for over 30 years and have five children together. Since we met, we never went back to Imo State, and our children don’t even know our hometown. Lagos is all they’ve ever known.

My wife passed away two months ago, and her body is still in the mortuary because her family has refused to allow the burial unless I ‘marry’ her, even in death. The truth is, I don’t have the money for that. In fact, she was the one taking care of the family, feeding us and handling most responsibilities. She sold vegetables at Iyana-Oba Market in Ojo.

Now, I am considering burying her here in Lagos without her family’s consent. Please, I need advice will there be any issues if I go ahead?”

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