Buhari, Dantata, other big deaths of 2025

The death of the immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari, on July 13, 2025, defined 2025 in which several Nigerians of high and low status died. The most prominent deaths from different walks of life are presented below.

Muhammadu Buhari

Former President Muhammadu died on July 13, 2025, in London, UK, where he was undergoing treatment for ill-health. He was a former general and politician who had the privilege of ruling the country as military leader from 1983 to 1985 and later served as the democratically elected President of Nigeria from 2015 to 2023. He was born in 1942 in Daura, Katsina State.

Ayo Adebanjo

Ayo Adebanjo, a co-founder of the umbrella Yoruba body, Afenifere, died on April 14, 2025, at the age of 97. He was a prominent anti-colonial crusader and renowned nationalist and voice for equity and fairness in the Nigerian project. He worked as a journalist and had a stint at the Ministry of Health, where he was dismissed for participating in pro-independence protests. He was born in Ijebu Ogbu Oke, now in Odogbolu LGA of Ogun State.

Edwin Kiagbodo Clark

Former Ijaw and Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) leader, Chief Edwin Clark, died on February 17, 2025, at the age of 97. He served in the military government of General Yakubu Gowon as information minister from 1966 to 1975. He played a critical role in the struggle for equity and fairness in the Nigerian federation. He was the author of the book, “Brutally Frank: The Autobiography of Edwin Kiagbodo Clark”. He hailed from Kiagbodo, Delta State.

Doyin Okupe

Former presidential aide and medical practitioner, Doyin Okupe, died on March 7, 2025, at the age of 73 after a protracted illness. He was a dexterous political strategist who worked with different presidents and presidential candidates. He served as both a placeholding vice presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) and the party’s campaign coordinator ahead of the 2023 elections. He hailed from Iperu, Ogun State.

Victor Omololu Olunloyo

Former Governor of Oyo State, Dr Victor Omololu Olunloyo, died on April 6, 2025, at the age of 90. He was a renowned mathematician, publisher of several papers on number theory and applied mathematics, and politician who served as the Governor of Oyo State from October 1, 1983 to December 31, 1983, when the military regime of General Muhammadu Buhari took power. He later joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State and later Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). He hailed from Ibadan, Oyo State.

Pascal Dozie

Founder of the defunct Diamond Bank and a former Chairman of MTN Nigeria, Pascal Gabriel Dozie, died on April 8, 2025, at the age of 85 after an ailment. Chief Dozie served as a director at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, and Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG). He hailed from Owerri, Imo State.

Christian Chukwu

Legendary Nigerian football captain and winner of the 1980 Nations Cup and ex-coach of the Super Eagles, Christian Chukwu, died on April 12, 2025, at the age of 74. He was reputed to be among the first generation of ball-playing defenders with accurate diagonal passes to running wingers, intelligent anticipation to stop attacks before they became dangerous and the heart to score important goals like a striker. He hailed from Enugu State.

Jibril Aminu

Professor of cardiology and former Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Maiduguri, Professor Jibril Aminu died on June 5, 2025, after an illness aged 85. Aminu was Minister of Education and then Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (1989–1992). While petroleum minister, he was President of the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (1991) and President of the OPEC Conference (1991–1992). He was a member of the PDP. He hailed from Song LGA, Adamawa State.

Mohammed Lawal Uwais

Former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Mohammed Lawal Uwais, died on June 6, 2025, at the age of 89. He was CJN from 1995 to 2006. He chaired the much-touted electoral reform committee that recommended sweeping measures to address Nigeria’s faulty electoral system, named the Uwais Panel Report. He hailed from Zaria, Kaduna State.

Cornelius Adebayo

Former Governor of Kwara State and former Minister of Communications, Cornelius Adebayo, died on June 25, 2025, at the age of 84. He played a prominent role during the Second Republic when democracy returned to Nigeria when he was elected senator in 1979 on the platform of the opposition Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). He was Commissioner for Education in Kwara between 1975 and 1978. He was born in Igbaja in Ifelodun LGA to parents from Oke-Onigbin in Isin LGA of Kwara State.

Aminu Dantata

Foremost Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, Aminu Alhassan Dantata, died on June 28, 2025, at the age of 94 in Abu Dhabi, UAE, where he was buried according to Islamic rites. He was a wealthy entrepreneur who supported just causes like the Kano State Foundation, an endowment for educational initiatives and grants to small-scale entrepreneurs. He hailed from Kano State.

Peter Rufai

Legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, popularly known as Dodo Mayana, died on July 3, aged 61. Having begun his career with Stationery Stores, he competed professionally abroad in Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain in a career that lasted 20 years. He hailed from Idimu in Lagos State.

Solomon Arase

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Solomon Ehigiator Arase, died on August 31, 2025, at the age of 69. He was reputed for his patriotism and intellectual fervour. He hailed from Edo State.

Solomon Ewuga

Former Minister of State for FCT and Senator representing Nasarawa North District, Solomon Ewuga, died on September 23, 2025, at the age of 70.  He was widely respected for his statesmanship and his role in shaping Nasarawa’s political history. Ewuga was born on June 19, 1955, in Nassarawa-Eggon into the Eggon ethnic nationality of Nasarawa State.

Oskar Ibru

Billionaire industrialist and Chairman of the Ibru Organisation, Olorogun Oskar Eyovbirere Ibru, died on September 24, 2025, at the age of 67. Ibru was believed to be the most prominent heir of the Ibru Dynasty started by his late father, Olorogun Michael Ibru, who died in 2016, and who shaped the businesses’ sustainability and expansion with key interests spanning shipping, oil and gas, real estate and commerce. He hailed from Agbarha-Otor in Ughelli North LGA of Delta State.

Parry Osayende

Former Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Parry Benjamin Osemwegie Osayande, died on September 28, 2025, at the age of 88. He was a retired Deputy Inspector General (DIG). He was the Commissioner of Police (CP) of the former Bendel State during the Lawrence Anini saga in the 1980s. He hailed from Benin, Edo State.

Somtochukwu Maduagwu

Arise TV’s news anchor, Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, died on September 29, 2025, at the age of 29. She was a Nigerian lawyer, model, news anchor, reporter and producer. She first gained recognition in 2023 as the runner-up in the 11th edition of Miss Tourism Nigeria. She died after an armed robbery attack at her Katampe District residence, which forced her to jump from the third floor. She hailed from Agulu, Anambra State.

Uma Ukpai

Renowned Christian cleric, Reverend Uma Ukpai, died on October 6, at the age of 80. He was a popular leader, international evangelist and preacher. He hailed from Ohafia, Abia State.

Joy Ogwu

Former Nigeria’s Permanent Representative at the United Nations (UN), Joy Uche Angela Ogwu, died on October 13, 2025, at the age of 79. While representing Nigeria at the UN in New York City, Ogwu emerged the President of the UN Security Council in July, 2010 and October, 2011, while also appointed the president of the executive board of the UN Women Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. She hailed from Delta State.

Walter Feghabo

Former Military Administrator of Ebonyi and Delta states in the 1990s, Navy Captain Walter Feghabo, died on October 19, 2025, at the age of 69. After his political appointments in the states, he was re-assigned to Delta State in 1998 till the country’s return to democratic rule in May, 1999. He hailed from Nembe, Bayelsa State.

Okey Ezea

Serving Senator for Enugu North, Okey Ezea, died on November 19, at the age of 62. He was noted for his principled voice and conviction. He hailed from Enugu State.

Segun Awolowo

Former Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and grandson of nationalist, Obafemi Awolowo, Segun Awolowo, died on November 20, 2025, at the age of 62. He hailed from Ogun State.

Dr Abu Ali Mopa

Estu Bassa Nge Kingdom, Dr Abu Ali Mopa, died on November 24, at the age of 79. He served as Military Administration of Bauchi State from September, 1990 to January, 1992. He hailed from Kogi State.

Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi

Prominent Islamic cleric and member of the Islamic Sufi group known as the Tijaniyya Sect, died on November 26, 2025, at the age of 98. He was reputed to have contributed to the advancements of Islam in Nigeria and beyond. He had 95 children. He hailed from Gombe State.

Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo

Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, died on December 11, 2025, at the age of 60. During his service both as commissioner, senator and deputy governor, Erhudjakpor exemplified hard work and high principles in service. He hailed from Sagbama in Bayelsa State.

Adamu Baikie

First Professor of Education from Northern Nigeria, Adamu Baikie died on December 12, 2025, at the age of 94, passing away in Zaria, Kaduna State. He had a long, impactful career as a respected university leader, mentor and administrator at institutions like the University of Benin, Nasarawa State University and the University of Lesotho.

Justice Tanko Muhammad

Former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, died on December 16, at the age of 72. He was the CJN from 2019 to 2022 when he resigned from office. He endured a tumultuous tenure on the apex court bench but brought in many technological reforms at the time of the pandemic. He hailed from Bauchi State.

Peter Nwaoboshi

Senator Peter Onyelukachukwu Nwoboshi died on December 19, 2025, at the age of 67. He was the senator representing Delta North between 2019 and 2023 under the PDP. Nwaoboshi hailed from Delta State.

Arthur Mbanefo

The diplomatic and corporate titan, Arthur Christopher Izuegbunam Mbanefo, died in December at the age of 95. Mbanefo played a critical role in Nigeria’s civil war and the military era during the constitutional reforms. He qualified as a chartered accountant in the United Kingdom in the mid-1950s and worked with respected accounting firms in Brighton and London before returning to Nigeria after independence in 1960 and joining the firm of Akintola Williams & Co as a partner. He hailed from Onitsha, Anambra State.

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