Shinkafi for burial after Jummat prayers on Friday

The remains of late Umaru Shinkafi, who died Wednesday at a London Hospital, will be interred Friday after the Islamic funeral prayer to be held at the Sultan Bello Mosque in Sokoto.

A statement issued by a senior counsellor in the Caliphate and Magajin Garin Sokoto, Alhaji Hassan Danbaba, said the Janaza prayer will be held immediately after the Jumaat prayers at the mosque located just outside the Sultan’s Palace.

“Marafa’s remains will arrive Sokoto Friday morning. The Janaza rites will be held after the Jumaat prayers, after which he will be interred at the Hubbare here in Sokoto.

“This is to correct the impression that the prayer and the internment will be held outside Sokoto,” the statement added.

Shinkafi, who holds the traditional title of Marafan Sokoto, died at the Harefield Hospital, Hill End Road, Harefield, Middlesex, in the United Kingdom Wednesday afternoon after a prolonged illness.

Born in Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State in January 1937, Shinkafi attended Sokoto Middle School, and later Barewa College, Zaria.

He was called to the Bar in 1974.

He was acting Federal Commissioner of External Affairs and headed a number of OAU mediation commissions.

Shinkafi served as the pioneer head of the Nigeria Security Organisation (NSO).

He was at one time the Chairman of International bank for West Africa.

Since 2012, he served as the Pro Chancellor of Sokoto State University.

He died at 79.