Maryam Abacha Rejects Claims Of Late Husband’s Treasury Looting, Calls For Evidence And Unity.
Former First Lady of Nigeria, Maryam Abacha, has vehemently dismissed longstanding allegations that her late husband, General Sani Abacha, looted the nation’s treasury during his tenure as military Head of State from 1993 to 1998. In a passionate interview broadcast on TVC on Sunday to mark 27 years since General Abacha’s death in office on 8 June 1998, she branded the claims as fabricated and a misrepresentation of her husband’s financial dealings.
The allegations of the so-called “Abacha loot” have persisted for decades, with successive Nigerian governments recovering hundreds of millions of dollars from foreign accounts in countries such as Switzerland, the United States, and the United Kingdom. These repatriated funds, widely referred to as proceeds of corruption, have been channelled into various social investment programmes. However, Mrs Abacha challenged accusers to provide concrete evidence, asking, “Who is the witness of the monies that were being stashed? Did you see the signature or the evidence of any monies stashed abroad?”
In a poignant defence, she claimed that funds her husband safeguarded for Nigeria mysteriously “vanished” within months, a point she noted has been overlooked. “People are not talking about that. Why are you blaming somebody for something? Is that tribalism or a religious problem? Or what is the problem with Nigerians?” she questioned, urging unity and an end to divisive narratives. “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. Why are we so bad towards each other? Because somebody is a Northerner or a Southerner, somebody is a Muslim or a Christian, or somebody is nice. It’s not fair.”
Mrs Abacha also called on the media to play a constructive role, stating, “I think the press should try. 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.”
Her comments come amid ongoing national debates about corruption, transparency, and unity, with related stories highlighting efforts by groups like the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) to enhance accountability and criticism from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) aimed at the current government. Mrs Abacha’s plea for fairness and evidence-based discourse has reignited discussion about the legacy of her husband’s rule and the broader challenges facing Nigeria.
