Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari passed away on Sunday afternoon, July 13, 2025, in London at the age of 82. He had been undergoing medical treatment there, as confirmed by President Bola Tinubu’s spokesperson.
Buhari served as leader of Africa’s most populous nation on two occasions during his extensive political career. His first tenure was as a military ruler from December 1983 to August 1985 after a coup. He later became a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023, marking a significant milestone in 2015 as the first opposition candidate to defeat a sitting president, when he won against incumbent Goodluck Jonathan.
In response to Buhari’s passing, Tinubu immediately sent Vice President Kashim Shettima to London to escort Buhari’s body back to Nigeria for burial. The president also decreed that all national flags be flown at half-mast from Sunday, July 13, to July 20. An emergency Federal Executive Council session was scheduled for Tuesday as a tribute to the former leader.
Born on December 17, 1942, in Daura, Katsina State, Buhari joined the army at 19 and rose to the rank of major general. He first seized power in 1983 with promises of restoring order to a poorly managed nation through rigorous discipline and anti-corruption initiatives. His initial rule was noted for authoritarian policies, such as executing drug traffickers, recovering embezzled state funds, and deploying soldiers to enforce traffic regulations.
The military government also expelled an estimated 1.54 million illegal immigrants amid falling oil prices and initiated a “war against indiscipline,” which included compelling tardy government employees to perform squats. However, Buhari’s first period in power lasted only 18 months until fellow military officer Ibrahim Babangida ousted him in August 1985, resulting in 40 months of imprisonment.
After spending much of the next three decades in minor political parties, Buhari successfully ran for president in 2015. He capitalized on voters’ dissatisfaction with government corruption and insecurity. Previously, he had unsuccessfully contested the presidency in 2003 and 2007. Hailing from Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim north, Buhari promised to tackle extremist violence and corruption in the country, one of Africa’s largest economies and oil producers.
Buhari assumed office as Nigeria was grappling with Boko Haram’s abduction of nearly 300 schoolgirls from Chibok, an event which took place in 2014. His administration saw the safe return of dozens of these Chibok schoolgirls, a notable success in the fight against extremism. Nevertheless, thousands remain missing due to Boko Haram’s actions over the years.
Buhari’s eight-year presidency was marked by the same challenges he pledged to address. The spread of extremist violence extended beyond the northeast to other regions, resulting in significant areas falling outside government control. Armed groups in the northwest, separatists in the southeast, and various gangs operated increasingly freely across Nigeria.
The economic situation worsened during his presidency as Nigeria experienced a recession due to declining global oil prices and militant attacks in the Niger Delta region. Buhari’s unconventional monetary policies aimed at maintaining the currency’s fixed exchange rate led to a severe shortage of foreign currency. By 2022, oil production had dropped to its lowest point in over two decades due to crude oil theft, and double-digit inflation persisted throughout much of his tenure.
Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign, a central aspect of his political agenda, resulted in limited high-profile convictions and drew criticism for its lack of effectiveness. Rights groups accused him of maintaining autocratic tendencies reminiscent of his military rule, particularly following the 2020 youth protests against police brutality, which resulted in deadly shootings of demonstrators by soldiers.
His presidency was further complicated by extended medical absences abroad, causing concern among Nigerians and leading to some calls for his replacement. His frequent taxpayer-funded medical trips to London, while millions of Nigerians faced inadequate healthcare facilities, sparked public discontent. During one absence, Buhari stated he needed “a longer time to rest.”
By the end of his presidency in 2023, public goodwill toward Buhari had largely diminished. Insecurity had worsened, and corruption appeared more prevalent than when he took office. His administration’s inconsistent response to various crises highlighted the challenges of uniting a country divided between its largely Muslim north and Christian south.
As a Muslim, Buhari was buried according to Islamic rites in his home state of Katsina in northwestern Nigeria. He was married twice and had ten children. President Tinubu described him as a patriot, soldier, and statesman who served Nigeria with unwavering dedication, noting that his legacy of service and sacrifice would endure despite the challenges that marked his time in office.
Following his state burial on July 15, 2025, in Daura, Katsina State, Buhari’s legacy continued to be assessed and commemorated in the months that followed.
On December 15, 2025, President Bola Tinubu unveiled a biography titled “From Soldier to Statesman – The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari” at a ceremony in Abuja attended by Buhari’s widow Aisha and members of his family. The book, authored by Dr. Charles Omole, chronicles Buhari’s life from his birth in Daura through his death, featuring testimonies from former service chiefs and government officials who served under him.
During the book launch, President Tinubu pledged to sustain Buhari’s legacies of discipline, integrity, and the principle that public office is a trust rather than an opportunity for personal enrichment. Former officials who testified in the book praised Buhari’s self-discipline and commitment to national security, particularly his focus on maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea and police reforms. The biography aimed to provide what organizers described as a comprehensive and honest account of Buhari’s tenure, revealing details about his roles as father, husband, and soldier while addressing some events during his presidency that had become subjects of conspiracy theories and controversy.
In a development that cast a shadow over Buhari’s legacy, his longtime Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, was charged with money laundering in late December 2025. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Malami, his son Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and his wife Hajia Bashir Asabe on 16 counts of money laundering involving ₦8.7 billion (approximately $6 million) on December 30, 2025, at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The charges alleged that between 2015 and 2025 — spanning Malami’s entire eight-year tenure as Attorney General under Buhari — the defendants used corporate accounts and property purchases to conceal funds from unlawful activities, including acquiring luxury properties in Maitama, Garki, Jabi, and Asokoro districts of Abuja, as well as in Kano and Kebbi states. All three defendants pleaded not guilty and were initially remanded in custody before being granted ₦500 million bail each on January 7, 2026.
On January 6, the court ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties linked to Malami, though his legal team challenged the order as duplicative litigation obtained through misrepresentation. The case was reassigned to Justice Obiora Egwuatu in early February 2026, with trial dates set for mid-February.
