Elder statesman and billionaire businessman, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, has been laid to rest in Madina, Saudi Arabia, in accordance with his final wish to be buried beside his late wife, Rabi Dantata.
Naija News had earlier reported that the philanthropist, who is also an uncle to Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, passed away at the age of 94 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in the early hours of Saturday and was subsequently flown to Saudi Arabia for burial.
Though he was laid to rest in the holy city of Madina, a funeral prayer in absentia, known as Salatul Ga’ib, was held in his honour on Saturday at the Umar Bin Khattab Mosque in the Kano metropolis.
The prayer was led by the Chairman of the Kano State Council of Ulamas, Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil, who explained that Salatul Ga’ib is offered for Muslims who pass away outside their homeland or in places where funeral rites cannot be performed.
He was joined by the Commandant General of the Kano Hisbah Board, Sheikh Ibrahim Daurawa, as well as thousands of sympathisers and dignitaries.
Final Resting Place Beside His Wife
While many Nigerians had anticipated that his funeral rites would be conducted in Kano, family sources revealed that Dantata had expressly wished to be buried beside his wife, Rabi Dantata, who died in 2023.
“His burial in Madina was in line with his longstanding wish to be interred near his wife’s grave,” a family member told journalists.
According to Leadership, the arrangements were already in place before his death, and his body was flown to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia shortly after his passing.
