The Anambra State House of Assembly has dismissed reports that it recently passed a new burial law, calling the claims false and misleading.
According to a Champion Newspaper report, Franklin Osankwa, Special Adviser to the Speaker’s Office, said the clarification was in response to a Punch Newspapers headline alleging that the state had banned cows, goats, and other condolence gifts at funerals.
“For the record, this publication is false, misleading, and a gross distortion of facts,” Osankwa stated.
He clarified that the 8th Assembly has not introduced, debated, or passed any burial legislation. The regulatory framework being referenced was enacted in 2019, before the current Assembly was inaugurated, and no amendments have been made since.
Osankwa described the attribution of a non-existent law to the present Assembly as unprofessional and a tactic to generate traffic and public outrage. He urged media outlets to treat journalism as a public responsibility rather than a tool for clickbait, especially as fake news continues to erode public trust.
The Assembly reaffirmed its commitment to transparent, people-focused lawmaking and said it would continue to communicate directly with citizens on any legislation under consideration.
Residents were advised to disregard the false narrative and rely only on verified updates from official government channels.