Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, who died on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, was buried on Tuesday at Al-Baqi Cemetery in Madinah, Saudi Arabia. His burial followed funeral prayers held after the Maghrib prayer at the Prophet’s Mosque.
The Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation confirmed the burial in a statement issued by Rabiu Ibrahim, Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister. According to the statement, Dantata’s body arrived in Madinah on Tuesday morning, accompanied by his son, Alhaji Tajudeen Dantata; his nephew and industrialist, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; and other family members.
A delegation from the Federal Government of Nigeria attended the funeral rites. The group, which departed Nigeria late Sunday and arrived in Madinah on Monday, was led by the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar.
Other officials 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, Hassan Abdullahi.
Prominent Islamic scholars also joined the delegation. Among them were Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar, Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa, and Khalifa Abdullahi Muhammad, who serves as Imam of the Dantata Mosque in Abuja.
Officials from the Nigerian Consulate General in Jeddah, led by Ambassador Ibrahim Moddibbo, were present, as well as Ambassador Muazzam Ibrahim Nayaya and Defence Attaché, Major General Adamu Hassan, who helped coordinate the funeral.
Political figures present 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.
Family members and close associates, led by Alhaji Aliko Dangote, were also in attendance. The Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, and Emir Aminu Ado Bayero were among the traditional rulers present to pay their respects.
