Just-In: Dantata’s burial postponed till Tuesday

Just-In: Dantata’s burial postponed till Tuesday

The final rites for prominent Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, has been postponed till Tuesday.

Dantata, who died Saturday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, was billed to be buried in Madina, Saudi Arabia, on Monday.

Both the Federal Government and State governments had sent high-powered delegation to Saudi Arabia for the burial.

But on Monday, Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, has told BBC Hausa that the burial had been postponed till Tuesday due to the late arrival of the deceased’s body in the holy city.

“There are regulations set by the Saudi government on how to bring a body for burial in the country, so now the paperwork is being filled out between the Saudi government and the family of the deceased,” the minister said.

Idris explained that once the required documents are completed, the body will be transported from the UAE to Saudi Arabia.

He added that the Nigerian embassy in Saudi Arabia and the family have already concluded funeral arrangements, awaiting the arrival of the remains.

According to reports, Dantata expressed in his will, the desire to be buried in the holy city of Medina, a request his family honored by seeking and receiving official approval from Saudi authorities.

Before then, the Kano State Council of Ulama held funeral prayer in absentia, otherwise known as Salatul Gaib to the deceased.

The federal government delegation led by Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar is already in Madina for the burial.

Similarly, the Governor of Kano, Abba Kabir Yusuf, his Jigawa counterpart, Umar Namadi and the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, are also there for the burial.

The 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero is also reported to have arrived the city for the burial.