* Tinubu, Sultan, Gumi, Pantami, Obi, Muslim groups mourn SCSN Secretary-General, who returned to his Creator at 70
The Nigerian Muslim community has been thrown into deep mourning following the death of Malam Nafiu Baba-Ahmed, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN), whose decades of service to Islam, advocacy for justice and contributions to public life earned him tributes from across the country.
Baba-Ahmed returned to his Creator in the early hours of Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at the age of 70, leaving behind a legacy spanning Islamic advocacy, legal practice, banking and public service.
In a solemn farewell, Muslim faithful, Islamic scholars and prominent personalities gathered at the National Mosque in Abuja for his Janazah prayer after Zuhr prayers before his remains were laid to rest at Gudu Cemetery in accordance with Islamic rites.
His death has drawn heartfelt tributes from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, as well as Islamic scholars, politicians and Muslim organisations.
Their messages highlighted his commitment to Islamic affairs, justice, unity and peaceful coexistence, reflecting the profound sense of loss his death has occasioned across the Muslim community.
Tinubu: Baba-Ahmed promoted justice, peaceful coexistence
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu described Baba-Ahmed as an impactful leader who steered the affairs of the SCSN with wisdom, foresight and a deep commitment to unity, justice and peaceful coexistence.
In a condolence statement issued on October 6, Tinubu recalled his association with the late secretary-general, particularly around the 2011 election and in subsequent years.
The President also highlighted Baba-Ahmed’s counsel and support during his 2023 presidential campaign.
Tinubu said the deceased played a pivotal role in sustaining the council’s voice on national issues while fostering greater understanding and promoting moral renewal and social justice.
He extended condolences to the SCSN leadership and members, Baba-Ahmed’s family, the government and people of Kaduna State, and the Nigerian Muslim Ummah.
The President prayed that Allah would forgive the deceased’s shortcomings, admit him into Jannatul Firdaus and grant his family and the Muslim community the strength to bear the loss.
Sultan, MURIC pay tribute
The Sultan of Sokoto described Baba-Ahmed’s death as a painful loss to Islam, the Muslim Ummah and Nigeria.
In a condolence message issued through his media team, Alhaji Abubakar III praised the late SCSN secretary-general’s wisdom, humility and commitment to the service of Allah and humanity.
He said Baba-Ahmed had devoted his life to promoting Islamic values, scholarship, unity and peaceful coexistence. He also acknowledged his professional background in law and banking and his leadership within the SCSN.
The Sultan recalled his efforts to strengthen Islamic institutions, describing him as steadfast, sincere and courageous in carrying out his responsibilities.
He urged Muslims to pray for the deceased and emulate his devotion and commitment to service.
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), in a statement issued by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, also mourned Baba-Ahmed.
MURIC described him as a highly respected Islamic scholar whose friendships and associations crossed ethnic and regional boundaries.
The organisation praised his frankness, fearlessness, commitment to justice and fairness, and generosity towards others, including when doing so caused him personal inconvenience.
It said he devoted his life to the service of Islam and humanity and prayed that Allah would forgive him and admit him into Jannatul Firdaus.
Gumi remembers a bridge-builder
Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Gumi also joined those mourning Baba-Ahmed, remembering him as a bridge-builder who looked beyond immediate differences to consider the bigger picture.
Gumi’s tribute added to the expressions of grief from Muslim leaders who regarded the late secretary-general as an important figure in Islamic affairs and public engagement in Nigeria.
Their recollections reflected a recurring theme: Baba-Ahmed was remembered not only for his position at the SCSN but also for his efforts to build relationships, defend causes he considered important and contribute to the wider Muslim community.
Pantami, Obi and Speaker Abbas mourn
Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, also mourned Baba-Ahmed, saying he had devoted the last 26 years of his life to the service of Islam and humanity and had advocated justice for all.
Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi described Baba-Ahmed as a lawyer, scholar and administrator who served with dedication.
Obi remembered him as a bridge-builder committed to justice and peaceful coexistence, saying Nigeria needed more voices for peace, understanding and justice.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Abbas Tajudeen, also expressed sadness over the death, describing Baba-Ahmed as an elder statesman and religious leader who used Islam to promote peace and unity across the country.
Abbas extended condolences to the deceased’s family, Kaduna State and the Muslim Ummah, and prayed for Allah’s mercy upon him.
From Zaria to national service
Born on June 11, 1956, in Zaria, Kaduna State, Baba-Ahmed received Qur’anic and Islamic education before studying law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
According to the SCSN, his combination of Islamic learning, legal knowledge and public policy experience informed his interventions on justice, religious freedom, constitutional rights, governance and the welfare of the Muslim Ummah.
He later became a Member of the National Institute (mni) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, an institution that provides training and research on national policy and strategic issues.
His career also extended into Nigeria’s financial and corporate sectors. He served as Secretary and Assistant General Manager at First Interstate Merchant Bank Limited before joining the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), where he served as a director, board member and corporate secretary.
The SCSN credited him with playing a leading role in establishing Islamic banking in Nigeria. He subsequently served as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Jaiz Bank Plc, participating in the bank’s board governance.
These professional responsibilities ran alongside his activities in Islamic advocacy and public engagement, giving him experience across religious, legal, financial and institutional settings.
At the heart of the Shari’ah Council
As Secretary-General of the SCSN, Baba-Ahmed occupied a central position in the council’s administration and strategic direction.
In its announcement of his death, the council said he coordinated its programmes and activities, facilitated engagement with the wider Muslim community, and represented its institutional interests in dealings with government, civil society, professional bodies and the media.
SCSN President hails Baba-Ahmed’s service to Muslim Ummah
The council’s President, Sheikh Professor Bashir Aliyu Umar, described him as a distinguished Islamic activist, legal practitioner, public intellectual, administrator and devoted servant of the Muslim Ummah.
It said his contributions helped strengthen the organisation’s institutional capacity and national presence.
Baba-Ahmed’s responsibilities involved not only organisational administration but also engagement on issues affecting Muslims and the place of Islamic institutions in Nigeria’s public life.
His death has prompted renewed tributes to his years of service, with colleagues recalling his commitment to defending Muslim interests and promoting the progress of the Ummah.
Akindele recalls his final work for Muslims
He was an asset to the Nigerian Muslim community: Akindele
One of the most personal tributes came from Sheikh Isah Solahudeen Akindele, Vice-President of the SCSN, who described Baba-Ahmed as an asset to the Nigerian Muslim community, particularly Muslims in the South-West.
In his tribute, Akindele said he had known the late secretary-general since 2000 through their work in the council. He recalled his consistent involvement in Islamic activities and advocacy on issues affecting Muslim communities.
Akindele said Baba-Ahmed remained concerned about the progress and unity of Muslims, particularly in the South-West, and continued to work towards those objectives even while ill.
He recounted that Baba-Ahmed had facilitated a meeting between him and scholars from Northern Nigeria the previous week. The meeting, which had been under discussion for about five months, eventually took place while Baba-Ahmed was on his sickbed.
According to Akindele, the participants discussed efforts to bring Muslims together, especially in the South-West. They subsequently reported their discussions and proposed next steps to Baba-Ahmed through the council’s secretariat.
Akindele said the meeting illustrated the secretary-general’s continuing interest in Muslim unity and development, adding that he died while working for the cause to which he had devoted himself.
He also described Baba-Ahmed as the “engine room” of the SCSN, saying he regularly spent nights reading and writing in defence of Islam.
Akindele further disclosed that Baba-Ahmed was expected to undergo a kidney transplant in Egypt but had declined offers from others to pay for the procedure, insisting that he or his children would bear the cost. These details were part of Akindele’s personal account of his colleague.
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