By HUSSAINA YAKUBU

The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN) says its Secretary General, the late Malam Nafiu Baba-Ahmad, will be remembered as a man who combined Islamic values, legal knowledge, professional competence, intellectual depth, humility and commitment to public service.

Baba-Ahmad died in the early hours of Tuesday.

This is contained in a statement issued by Prof. Bashir Aliyu Umar, President of the SCSN.

The council described the deceased as a distinguished Islamic activist, legal practitioner, public intellectual, administrator and devoted servant of the Muslim Ummah.

Born on June 11, 1956, in Zaria, Kaduna State, Baba-Ahmad received Qur’anic and Islamic education before studying law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

The council said his combination of Islamic scholarship, legal knowledge and public policy expertise enabled him to contribute to national discourse on justice, religious freedom and constitutional rights.

It said Baba-Ahmad played a pivotal role in the administration and strategic direction of SCSN as Secretary General.

According to the council, he coordinated programmes, facilitated engagements with the Muslim community and represented the organisation before government, civil society, professional bodies and the media.

The council also had a distinguished career in Nigeria’s financial and corporate sectors, including service at the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).

At NDIC, he served as Director, Board Member and Corporate Secretary, while earlier working with First Interstate Merchant Bank Ltd.

The council said he served as Secretary and Assistant General Manager at the merchant bank, contributing his legal expertise to corporate governance and regulatory compliance.

It also credited him with playing a leading role in establishing Islamic banking in Nigeria and serving as an Independent Non Executive Director of Jaiz Bank Plc.

Baba-Ahmad was also a Member of the National Institute (mni), National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru.

The council said the recognition reflected his contributions to national policy discourse and strategic thinking.

The SCSN extended its condolences to his three wives, 21 children, family members, Shurah members, relatives, colleagues and the wider Muslim community.

The council prayed Allah to forgive Ahmad’s shortcomings, accept his good deeds and reward his years of service to Islam and humanity.

It also prayed Allah to grant him Al-Jannatul Firdaus and give his family and the Muslim Ummah strength and patience to bear the loss.(NAN)