By Ayo Ayodele
Saudi Arabian authorities have granted approval for the burial of Nigerian billionaire and philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, in the holy city of Madinah.
The announcement was made on Sunday by Dantata’s Principal Private Secretary, Mustapha Junaid, via a statement on Facebook. According to the statement, the burial will take place Monday morning.
Alhaji Dantata passed away on Saturday morning in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, at the age of 94. He was the last surviving child of the legendary Alhassan Dantata.
On Saturday, the Kano State Islamic Council of Ulama held special “Ga’ib Prayers” — Islamic funeral prayers conducted when the body of the deceased is not present.
Sanusi Dantata, a descendant of the prominent Dantata family, confirmed the burial arrangements on social media, writing:
“It was the lifelong wish of late Alhaji Aminu Dantata to be buried in the Prophet’s City, Madinah.
Alhamdulillah, the Saudi authorities have granted permission for his burial in the Holy Land. His Janazah (funeral prayer) is scheduled for tomorrow, Insha Allah, at the Prophet’s Mosque.”
If the logistics had failed, earlier plans were in place to return the remains to Kano, Nigeria, for burial.