A former President of the Newspapers Proprietors of Niger, NPAN, an industrialist and a close ally of President Muhammadu Buhari, and a Second Republic minister, Alhaji Ismaila Isa Funtua, has passed on.
His death was confirmed by the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, in a tweet: ”Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un! Just heard about Mallam Ismaila Isa Funtua’s sudden death. This life! May Allah accept his soul, forgive his shortcomings and grant him Jannah al-Firdaus.”
He reportedly died on Monday night while keeping a doctor’s appointment, according to family sources.
He is suspected to have died of cardiac arrest as he was not known to be seriously sick.
The Katsina-born Funtua was a member of the 1994-1995 Constitutional Conference, and founder of Bulet International Nigeria Limited, which built some of the iconic public buildings in Abuja.
Also, a relative of the deceased octogenarian, Mohammed Isa, reportedly confirmed the news of his death. He said his remains would be buried on Tuesday in Abuja.
Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, also reportedly confirmed the death, adding that Funtua was returning from the mosque where he went to pray when he suddenly fell ill and decided to go and see a doctor.
Funtua, who reportedly felt unease at about 4pm, reportedly died on Monday night shortly after driving himself to a hospital.
According to a source: “It is difficult to confirm what really happened but he lost the battle after getting to the hospital.
“Some said it was cardiac arrest but only his doctors can conform what went wrong. ”
An in-law to Buhari, the deceased would be buried on Tuesday.
Among early callers to his residence was a former Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mallam Wada Maida.
Until his death, he was one of the most influential politicians and businessmen in Nigeria.
He had in the early 1980s established The Democrats, an all-colour newspaper which became authoritative on political matters.
His construction firm, Bulet, became a household after constructing the magnificent Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
He recently clarified he was not seeking to be Chief of Staff to Buhari or contest the Presidency in 2023.
Although prayers were being offered for repose of his soul at Shagari Mosque in Area 1 part of Abuja, it was reliably learnt that he would be buried by 1pm on Tuesday.
