I Was Hospitalized Together with Buhari in Same London Facility Before His Passing, Says Abdulsalami

Former Nigerian Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd.), has affirmed SaharaReporters’ previous report that he and the late President Muhammadu Buhari were both undergoing treatment at the same London hospital prior to Buhari’s passing.

During an interview with Channels Television monitored by SaharaReporters on Monday, Abdulsalami remarked that he had been released from the hospital shortly before the announcement of Buhari’s death.

“Regrettably, we were both in the same hospital, but I had been discharged. Upon hearing the news of his passing, I swiftly visited to offer my condolences to the family and to assist in preparing the body for repatriation,” he stated.

SaharaReporters had exclusively reported that the two former Nigerian leaders were in critical condition in the United Kingdom, receiving medical care for undisclosed but severe health issues exacerbated by age.

A credible source within the presidency revealed that Abdulsalami was being treated for age-related complications.

Buhari’s death was announced on Sunday. SaharaReporters also noted that his remains would not arrive in the country today (Monday) as initially anticipated, resulting in a delay of the scheduled burial.

In a post on his X handle Monday afternoon, Bashir Ahmad, a former aide to the late president, announced that Buhari’s body is now expected to arrive in Katsina by noon on Tuesday, with the burial set to take place in Daura at 2 p.m. the same day.

“The late President Muhammadu Buhari’s body is expected to arrive in Katsina at 12:00 noon tomorrow, with a funeral according to Islamic rites scheduled in his hometown of Daura by 2:00 PM the same day,” Ahmad stated.

Similarly, Empowered Newswire reported that logistical arrangements to repatriate the body on Monday had failed.

Informed sources in London informed the newspaper that the earliest opportunity for the flight to reach Nigeria is Tuesday, late in the morning or early afternoon.

This is due to several ongoing arrangements in London, including flight schedules from UK airports, hospital arrangements, and other logistical constraints.

Given these logistical challenges, the plan to inter Buhari in Daura on Monday has been postponed to Tuesday, July 15, 2025.

Vice President Kassim Shettima is already in London and has been briefed about the changes in plans. He was conveying the updates to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the time of this report.

A source in the Presidential Villa also confirmed to Empowered Newswire that President Tinubu, who had initially planned a special Federal Executive Council meeting for Tuesday in honor of the late former president, his predecessor, was considering rescheduling the FEC session to Wednesday.

The President’s original intention was to personally attend the burial today in Daura and then preside over the special FEC meeting on Tuesday.