Maryam Abacha, widow of former military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, has dismissed long-standing allegations that her husband looted billions of dollars while in power, claiming instead that funds he “kept for Nigeria” mysteriously vanished after his death.
Speaking during an interview on Sunday with TVC, Mrs. Abacha questioned the credibility of the evidence often cited in reports accusing her late husband of embezzlement. “Who is the witness of the monies that were being stashed? Did you see the signature or the evidence of any monies stashed abroad?” she asked.
She claimed that the money her husband allegedly secured in trust for the country disappeared within months of his death in 1998. “And the monies that my husband kept for Nigeria, in a few months, the monies vanished. People are not talking about that,” she said.
General Sani Abacha ruled Nigeria from 1993 until his sudden death in 1998, during which international observers and successive Nigerian administrations have alleged he embezzled billions of dollars. Multiple repatriation efforts over the years have resulted in the return of hundreds of millions in recovered assets.
However, Mrs. Abacha rejected these allegations outright, defending her husband’s legacy and questioning the motives behind the persistent criticism. “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 stated.
She also challenged what she described as ethnic and religious biases in how Nigerians assess their leaders. “Why are you blaming somebody? Is that tribalism or a religious problem or what is the problem with Nigerians? Why are we so bad towards each other?”
Mrs. Abacha criticized the media for perpetuating negative narratives and urged journalists to take a more constructive approach. “People are not that bad… Because Nigerians are fools, they listen to everything,” she said bluntly.
Citing the relatively strong foreign reserves and reduced external debt during Abacha’s regime, she maintained there was no financial misconduct. “So, where did he steal the money from?” she asked.
She concluded with a call for national unity and mutual respect, saying, “Abacha does not make Nigeria alone. Even the single man on the street is very important. We are all human beings, for goodness sake. All these wahala should stop.”
