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Former Sultan And Father Of Detained National Security Adviser Dasuki Dies

The 18th Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, passed away last night in Abuja, Nigeria's capital.

The Sultan, who was deposed by late General Sani Abacha's government in 1996, was the father of the immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki who is detained by President Muhammad Buhari’s government.  The retired colonel has been in detention since 2015 over allegations of diverting funds meant for arms purchases into the presidential re-election bid of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.


Sultan Dasuki succeeded late Sultan Abubakar III.  He was the first Sultan to emerge from the Buhari house of Usman Danfodio royalty of the Sokoto Caliphate.

When he was deposed, Sultan Dasuki was succeeded by the late Muhammad Machido, son of Sultan Abubakar III.  Machido, however, died in a plane crash in 2006, and his younger brother, Sa'ad Muhammad ascended the throne.

Dasuki was born on December 31, 1923. He is married with many wives, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

His last public statement was in London in July 2015, following a search of his home in Sokoto by the State Security Service after they arrested his son.

Speaking to the BBC, he expressed surprised the SSS had invaded his home just because the government had an allegation against his son.

He said he didn’t know how they got access to the house, adding he heard about the matter for the first time but later called and was briefed on the development.

"Yes it is against my son, but I am different from him. My house is different from his house. If the government has anything against him, let them check his house in Abuja and not my own house.”

Former military administrator Yakubu Muazu removed the late Dasuki from the throne. Muazu had summoned the Emir to the Government House for an “Emergency Meeting” as the Emir left his palace in Sokoto, Mobile Policemen took over his Palace while his aides were temporarily detained at a Govt House. The deposed Emir was transported first to Yola and later to Zing in Taraba state where he commenced a life in exile.

 The Abacha government accused his a variety of infractions, which included allegations that he was traveling outside of Nigeria without official permission, meeting foreign dignitaries and interference in political events.

A source told SaharaReporters that the detained former NSA was temporarily released two weeks ago to visit his ailing father, but he stoutly refused to accept any temporary release to visit his father saying he would not accept any short of unconditional release as ordered by the ECOWAS court.

Mamman Daura, an influential member of President Buhari’s kitchen cabinet, is married to the late Sultan’s daughter and had tried prevailing on the younger Dasuki to accept the deal but he declined.

 The former Sultan will be buried later today according to Muslim rites.

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