On Thursday, February 11, 2021, the remains of Prince Anthony Suleiman Momoh, popularly known as Prince Tony Momoh, will be interred on Grailland, Iju Hills, Lagos, in accordance with his wishes.
The interment will be preceded by a Grail Funeral Hour of Worship in the Temple of God on Grailland at 4.00 pm.
Prince Tony Momoh was a public figure during his earthly life. He was a journalist and a politician. He was a former Federal Minister of Information and Culture during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida.
The Grail Movement of Nigeria, in a Press Release, released guidelines for all those of his friends and colleagues who wish to pay their last respect to him.
The Press Release states that a “funeral in the sense of Grail Message, otherwise known as the Grail Funeral, affords help and support towards the fulfillment of the wishes of the departed one for continued joyful activity after earth death and ultimately for the attainment of his longing for Paradise.”
Participants are expected to observe all the rules pertaining to the holding of Grail Funeral Hour of Worship. Significantly, “on entering the Temple on Grailland, we place ourselves in the presence of the Almighty Creator and this imposes obligations that go far beyond what would be demanded if one were to enter the presence of an earthly ruler.”
“These obligations include: (a) the need for absolute decorum and silence throughout the ceremonies; (b) the need for the highest standard of dressing to be observed. Participants should be fully dressed either in native attire or Western clothes (such as suit and tie for men, and dresses for women that when seated must go below the knees and the sleeves must cover the elbow).
“Casual clothes and slippers should not be worn. And as a sign of humility before the presence of the Almighty God, the head remains uncovered both for men and women.
According to the press release, “everyone who enters the Temple for the Grail Funeral is an active participant in the worship of God, the Almighty Father of All.” Therefore, “humility, honour, reverence, adoration and veneration” must be observed.
Consequently, gadgets such as telephone, camera, tape for audio or video recording or any other electronic devices which may distract even for a moment the course of the funeral proceedings would not be allowed into the Temple. “Therefore these gadgets are not to be brought into the Hall of Worship or the Cemetry.
The organizers also warn that late arrival for the Grail Hour of Worship will not be allowed. All participants are expected to arrive Grailland not later than 2.30pm. Entry into the Temple will be between 3.00pm and 3.40pm. “No person will be granted entry once the Temple doors are closed.
The organizers also state that the remains of the departed one will not displayed for exhibition or spectacle. There will be no lying-in-state.
However, journalists who wish to capture for their stories the arrival of the casket in Lagos from Abuja are advised to go to the airport on Thursday morning or do so as the hearse enters Grailland by 10.00am.
Those who wish to take photographs with members of the family after the Funeral may do so at the designated places for this at the Fountains at the entrance to the Pavilion Gate of the Temple, at the grounds around Assembly Hall and at the Open Restaurant.
The organizers equally state that COVID-19 Protocols will be strictly enforced. This would require all participants and visitors to Grailland to have their temperatures checked, requested to wash their hands and apply sanitizers at the Sanitizing Booths. Every participants and visitors must put on their face masks throughout the duration of their stay on Grailland.
In observing social distance regulations, the organizers state that the Temple which normally sits 3,000 persons will only be able to take 900 participants at this time. There will be no breach of social distance regulations.
Journalists who wish to participate in the Funeral Hour of Worship are encouraged to send their names and names of their media houses for accreditation on or before 6.00pm on Wednesday, February 10, 2021, to the following numbers: 0706 515 2026 or 0802 312 8538.