The late Alhaji Bello Maitama Yusuf, a former Minister of Interior and Senator from 1999-2007, passed away in the early hours of Friday in Kano at the age of 76.

A family friend, Alhaji Hussaini Dalhatu, confirmed the demise and mentioned that the funeral prayer for the Sardauna Dutse would be conducted after the Jumu’at prayer at the Emir of Kano’s palace.

Born in Gwaram, Jigawa State in 1947, Bello Maitama Yusuf served as the Minister of Interior in 1981 and the Minister of Commerce in 1982. Educated at North Gate University, Washington, he was also a member of the defunct National Party of Nigeria.

Yusuf, a lawyer, held the position of Chief Registrar at the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Kano. As the Minister of Commerce, he played a crucial role in restricting the influx of imported goods to Nigeria, which was significantly affecting the nation's foreign reserves.

He was elected to the Nigerian Senate for the Jigawa South West constituency in April 1999 and was reelected in April 2003. Yusuf actively opposed the Third Term Agenda and criticized President Obasanjo for mismanaging a petroleum development fund. He also played a prominent role as a member of the Senate committee on youth and sports.