Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar ( born August 24 , 1956 in Sokoto ) is the 20th Sultan of Sokoto , the titular ruler of Sokoto in northern Nigeria , head of Jama’atu Nasril Islam ( Society for the Support of Islam – JNI ) , and president-general of the Nigerian National Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs ( NSCIA ) . As Sultan of Sokoto , he is considered the spiritual leader of Nigeria 's seventy-million Muslims , roughly fifty percent of the nation 's population . Sa'adu Abubakar succeeded his brother , Muhammadu Maccido , who died on ADC Airlines Flight 53 , the flight crashed shortly after takeoff from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and had been destined for Sokoto
ADC Airlines Flight 53
ADC Airlines Flight 53
Sa'adu Abubakar