Maryam Abacha, the widow of Nigeria’s former military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, has forcefully rejected long-standing allegations that her husband looted billions of dollars from the nation’s treasury during his rule.
In a rare public interview with TVC on Sunday, she challenged the widespread narrative and insisted that no credible evidence has ever been presented to support the claims.
“Who is the witness of the monies that were being stashed? Did you see the signature or the evidence of any monies stashed abroad?” Mrs. Abacha questioned during the interview, calling into doubt the authenticity of repeated corruption accusations leveled against the late general.
She also alleged that funds her husband secured for Nigeria during his administration mysteriously vanished after his death in 1998, hinting at possible mismanagement or diversion by unnamed parties.
“And the monies that my husband kept for Nigeria, in a few months, the monies vanished. People are not talking about that,” she said, implying that her husband’s intentions were patriotic and not self-serving.
Nearly three decades after General Abacha’s death, his family continues to face scrutiny over the billions of dollars allegedly siphoned from state coffers.
Various sums linked to the regime have been recovered from overseas accounts in countries including Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with the Nigerian government confirming several repatriations over the years.
However, Mrs. Abacha believes her husband has been unfairly targeted and that the public judgment is rooted in prejudice.
“Why are you blaming somebody? Is that tribalism or a religious problem or what is the problem with Nigerians?” she asked.
“Why are we so bad towards each other? Because somebody is a northerner or a southerner, somebody is a Muslim or a Christian… It’s not fair.”
She also criticized the media’s role in shaping public opinion, urging journalists to stop reviving negative narratives and instead focus on fostering national unity.
“People are not that bad. Twenty-seven years ago, and you are still talking about Abacha. He must be very powerful and loved by Nigerians. We thank God for that,” she said with a mix of irony and defiance.
Reflecting on her husband’s rule, which she claims was marked by economic stability, increased foreign reserves, and reduced external debt, Mrs. Abacha reiterated her view that there was no misappropriation of funds.
“So, where did he steal the money from? So where would he have stolen the money from?” she asked. “And because Nigerians are fools, they listen to everything.”
In closing, she called on Nigerians to rise above ethnic and religious divisions and treat every citizen with dignity.
“Babangida doesn’t make Nigeria alone. Abacha does not make Nigeria alone. Abiola and everybody, nobody is big enough for Nigeria.
Even the single man on the street is very important. We are all human beings, for goodness sake. All these wahala should stop,” she concluded.
The interview has sparked fresh conversations across media platforms, once again bringing the controversial legacy of General Sani Abacha into public focus.
Source: Punch
