Posted by By YETUNDE OLADEINDE and CHRISTOPHER OJI on
Victoria Court Cemetery… Guaranteeing Peaceful Eternal Rest. Welcome to the final place of rest for Pastor Bimbo Odukoya. It is a few minutes past 1pm on Tuesday, and preparations are in top gear for the burial. Two pastors from the Fountain of Life Church have just finished their assignment of getting the place ready.
Victoria Court Cemetery… Guaranteeing Peaceful Eternal Rest. Welcome to the final place of rest for Pastor Bimbo Odukoya. It is a few minutes past 1pm on Tuesday, and preparations are in top gear for the burial. Two pastors from the Fountain of Life Church have just finished their assignment of getting the place ready.
"They bought a family vault that has four spaces. They are using one for Pastor Bimbo. Each of them goes for N250,000 while the family vault costs about N1 million," a source told Daily Sun.
The cemetery is said to be owned by an Israeli and managed by a Nigerian lawyer, Mr Dele Martins. "We started construction in 1987 and by 1988 we finished it," the source added.
All kinds of memorials catch your fancy as you walk round the cemetery. The inscriptions and flowers are all in place. Offensive odour? Forget it! Instead you have sweet smelling flowers and plants good enough for saints.
The sprawling compound is peaceful and serene. You have the old and the new sites. In addition, you have a section for Muslims and another for Christians.
Mr Jikeme, who has been working here for about 17 years takes you through the daily routine. "On a daily basis we clean the environment from 8am to 10am. Then we cut and trim the plants and grass."
Does Jikeme reside here, you ask, and he replies this way: "No, I don't. I live in Ketu and there is a staff bus that takes us to and fro everyday."
He goes on to explain that, "they actually built a place for workers here. But we chose not to live here. But there is a Yorubaman who lives here."
You ask him if he has ever encountered spirits or ghosts? "You can't see spirit with ordinary eyes," he tells you, adding: "You need to use something to wash your eyes to see the dead."
The engineering graduate of Isele Duku Polytechnic, Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta, then goes on to say that, "they are peaceful people. They do not disturb us. We sleep on the marble over there and nothing happens."
Beautiful tombs carved in marble and granite with flowers depict images of class after death. How affordable are these?
"Granite is more expensive. For the marble you will get something with at least N150,000. The highest is about N800,000."
There have been tale of robbers stealing from the dead. Has it ever happened at Victoria Court?
"Never! There is 24 hours security here. We have a special way of locking the vault that makes it difficult to open."
Prominent Nigerians who have lived abroad for so long are sometimes flown back after their demise to be interred at Victoria Court. "We have bricklayers who plaster and cover. We prefer to handle a group at a time," informs Jikeme, who says the cemetery boasts of a staff of seven.
On the other extreme is the chapel with no name. Sounds of birds welcome you to the place which can accommodate about 500 people. "There is no residential pastor because it is a neutral chapel. If you are coming, you bring your pastor. It is free once you buy a vault."
So, what happens if two or more people are being buried on the same day? "We give them time. Like tomorrow, (today) another person would be buried here. So, they are going to come earlier than Pastor Bimbo who is expected here by 1pm."
Shola Anikulapo Kuti, daughter of the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti was buried here. Other prominent Nigerians who have made this elitist cemetery their eternal abode include: Suzanna Tseli, Mrs Juliana Adunola Igbiniyesu, Sunday Adegbemiga, Adedapo Odutola, Madam Rebecca Adebisi Aderinoku, Dr. Mrs Christiana Olayiwola, Ajayi Okunnuga, Mrs Victoria Towobola Onabule, Mrs Abigail Olufemiwa Anike Williams, Mr Justice Ademola Adekunle Adeoba; James Bankole Balogun, Alarape Alari Lampejo, Prince Abayomi Afolabi Popoola and Jaiye Olusegun Aboderin, husband of star actress Stella Damasus Aboderin.