Burial of Alhaji Aminu Dantata Postponed Till Tuesday in Madina Due to Delayed Body Arrival
By: Safiya Abdulrahim Dabban
The final burial rites of renowned Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, have been postponed to Tuesday, following the delayed arrival of his body in Madina, Saudi Arabia.
Dantata, who passed away on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, was scheduled to be buried in the holy city of Madina on Monday, in accordance with his wishes stated in his will. The delay, according to Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, is due to official regulations governing the importation of bodies into Saudi Arabia.
“There are regulations set by the Saudi government on how to bring a body for burial in the country. The paperwork is now being completed between the Saudi authorities and the family of the deceased,” Idris told BBC Hausa on Monday.
The minister further explained that once the necessary documentation is finalized, the remains will be transported from the UAE to Saudi Arabia for interment.
Dantata had requested to be buried in Madina, a request that his family honored after obtaining the required approvals from Saudi authorities.
Despite the postponement, funeral arrangements have been concluded by the family and the Nigerian Embassy in Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, the Kano State Council of Ulama conducted a funeral prayer in absentia (Salatul Gaib) in his honor.
A high-powered federal delegation, led by the Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, is already in Madina for the burial. Also in the holy city are the Governor of Kano, Abba Kabir Yusuf; Governor of Jigawa, Umar Namadi; and the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II. The 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, has also reportedly arrived for the final rites.