Ibrahim Ahmad, Sharia council president who refused dialogue with Boko Haram, is dead

Ibrahim Ahmad, president of the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN), is dead.

Ahmad reportedly died in the early hours of Thursday. The cleric is said to have been battling an unknown ailment.

Funeral prayers were held for him at Alfurqan Mosque located at Nassarawa government reserved area (GRA) in Kano state.

He leaves behind a wife and 10 children.

The SCSN mourned him in a post on Facebook.

“Innalillahi wa inna ilayhi Rajihun the death of Dr Ibrahim Datti Ahmed was just announced until is death he was the President Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN). may Allah forgive is shortcomings and make Aljannah firdaus his final abode. Allahumagfirlahu Allahumathabithu,” it said.

The late Ahmad was a presidential aspirant of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

In 2013, he declined to serve on the committee constituted by former President Goodluck Jonathan to dialogue with members of Boko Haram over what he described as lack of sincerity on the part of the government.