Maryam Abacha, the wife of the late Nigerian military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, has denied widespread allegations that her husband looted Nigeria’s treasury during his rule from 1993 to 1998.
In a recent interview with TVC, aired on Sunday to mark the 27th anniversary of Abacha’s death, the former First Lady insisted that claims of financial misappropriation were false and unfounded.
According to Mrs. Abacha, the repeated narratives of corruption linked to her husband have been based on misinformation and lack credible evidence. “Who is the witness of the monies that were being stashed?” she asked pointedly. “Did you see the signature or the evidence of any monies stashed abroad?”
Over the years, successive Nigerian administrations have reported recovering significant sums of money believed to have been hidden in foreign accounts under Abacha’s name. These recovered funds, often referred to as “Abacha loot,” have been repatriated from countries including Switzerland, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Nigerian governments have claimed these funds have been channeled into critical social and economic programs.
But Mrs. Abacha remains adamant that her husband’s intentions were misunderstood, and that any money he handled was for the benefit of Nigeria. “And the monies that my husband kept for Nigeria, in a few months, the monies vanished. People are not talking about that,” she stated.
She questioned the motivations behind the continued accusations, suggesting regional and religious biases might be influencing public opinion. “Why are you blaming somebody for something? Is that tribalism or a religious problem? Or what is the problem with Nigerians?” she queried emotionally.
Mrs. Abacha further called on the press to play a more constructive role in society, urging them to avoid spreading what she referred to as damaging and unverified claims. “You, the press, should try to educate the people. You are here to educate the people, to inform the people, and to entertain. You are here to help the country. You are not here to bastardise people,” she emphasized.
In closing, the former First Lady prayed for unity and truth among Nigerians. “I pray for Nigerians. I pray for all of us. I pray that we should have goodness in our hearts. We should stop telling lies and blaming people,” she said.
General Sani Abacha died in office on June 8, 1998. His regime, though credited with some economic reforms, has remained controversial due to persistent allegations of human rights violations and grand corruption.
Despite the public outcry and global attention surrounding the so-called “Abacha loot,” Maryam Abacha continues to stand firm in defense of her husband’s legacy, calling for fairness, evidence, and national healing.
