NIGERIAN BUSINESS ICON ALHAJI AMINU DANTATA LAID TO REST IN MADINAH

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

Renowned Nigerian business magnate and philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, was laid to rest on Tuesday at the revered Al-Baqi Cemetery in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, following his passing on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

His burial took place after Jana’iza (funeral) prayers at the Prophet’s Mosque shortly after the Maghrib prayer, in line with Islamic rites.

According to a statement from the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, signed by Rabiu Ibrahim, Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister, the late patriarch’s remains arrived in Madinah on Tuesday morning. He was accompanied by his son, Alhaji Tajudeen Dantata; nephew and Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; and other close family members.

A high-powered delegation representing the Federal Government of Nigeria attended the funeral. The delegation, which departed Nigeria on Sunday night and arrived in Madinah on Monday, was led by the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar.

Other members of the delegation included the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris; Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata; and Director of Internal Security at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Hassan Abdullahi, representing the NSA.

Notable Islamic scholars such as Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar, Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa, and Khalifa Abdullahi Muhammad, Imam of the Dantata Mosque in Abuja, also joined the delegation.

Officials from the Nigerian Consulate General in Jeddah, including Ambassador Ibrahim Moddibbo, Ambassador Muazzam Ibrahim Nayaya, and Defence Attaché Major General Adamu Hassan, coordinated the funeral arrangements in the holy city.

Distinguished Nigerian dignitaries at the burial included Deputy Senate President Senator Barau Jibrin, former APC National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, and Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi.

Alhaji Aliko Dangote led the Dantata family and other associates in paying their final respects. The Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, and Emir Aminu Ado Bayero were also in attendance to honour the late patriarch.