Maryam Abacha, widow of Nigeria’s former military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, has firmly rejected longstanding accusations that her late husband looted billions of dollars from public funds during his time in office.
In a recent interview with TVC, Mrs. Abacha demanded concrete proof of the alleged looting, challenging critics to present clear evidence. “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 also claimed that the funds her husband allegedly secured for Nigeria disappeared shortly after his death. “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 mismanagement by the administrations that followed his.
Mrs. Abacha questioned the continued scrutiny of her husband’s legacy, asking whether ethnic, regional, or religious bias might be behind the allegations. “Why are you blaming somebody? Is that tribalism or a religious problem or what is the problem with Nigerians?” she queried.
Urging the media to play a more constructive role, she criticized journalists for perpetuating what she described as unfounded stories. “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 added.
Referring to Nigeria’s relatively stable economy during General Abacha’s regime, including rising foreign reserves and lower external debt, she reiterated her call for verifiable evidence. “So, where did he steal the money from? So where would he have stolen the money from?” she asked, suggesting that Nigerians had been misled. “And because Nigerians are fools, they listen to everything.”
Calling for unity and mutual respect among Nigerians, Mrs. Abacha emphasized that no single individual is greater than the country. “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.”
What you should know
Maryam Abacha has denied that her husband looted Nigeria’s treasury, challenging critics to present evidence and suggesting that the continued focus on his regime is driven by bias and misinformation.
