“Where’s the Evidence?” — Abacha’s Widow Denies Loot Allegations
Maryam Abacha, widow of the late military Head of State General Sani Abacha, has publicly rejected long-standing allegations that her husband looted billions of dollars during his rule, insisting that the claims are based on “misinformation” and lack evidence.
In an interview on TVC’s Politics on Sunday hosted by Femi Akande, Mrs. Abacha said the looting narrative has unfairly tainted her husband’s legacy.
“Who is the witness of the monies that were being stashed? Did you see the signature or evidence of any money stashed abroad?” she asked. “The money that my husband kept for Nigeria, in a few months, it vanished. Why are you blaming somebody?”
She also defended her husband’s integrity over the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election, suggesting that if Abacha had indeed orchestrated it, “then he was more powerful than the President at the time.”
Calling for national unity and tolerance, Mrs. Abacha lamented the divisive role of ethnicity and religion in public discourse.
“Why are we so bad towards each other? Because someone is a Northerner or Southerner? A Muslim or a Christian? It’s not fair.”
On the current security crisis, she expressed disbelief that Nigeria’s military has not yet defeated insurgents, especially given its past successes through ECOMOG missions.
“We are bigger, richer, and more experienced. Why can’t we have peace here?”
Mrs. Abacha urged better cooperation between the government and military, calling on the current administration to build on existing legacies rather than discarding them.
She also took a swipe at civilian leadership, saying:
“Military governance is different — they have the will and the power. Maybe the civilians are not that strong.”
Defending her husband’s regime, she said no government ever truly fails, but added that policy continuity is key to national progress.
Concluding the interview, she appealed for truthful journalism, patriotism, and respect for past leaders:
“Let’s be good to our leaders and say good things. The press should help build the nation, not destroy people’s reputations.”
