Maryam Abacha, widow of former Nigerian military ruler General Sani Abacha, has refuted long-standing allegations that her husband looted Nigeria’s treasury during his time in office, insisting instead that he saved money for the country.
In an interview with TVC, Maryam challenged the credibility of claims that funds linked to her late husband were hidden in foreign accounts. “Who is the witness of the monies that were being stashed?” she asked. “Did you see the signature or the evidence of any monies stashed abroad?”
General Abacha ruled Nigeria from 1993 until his death in 1998. Since then, multiple Nigerian governments have announced the recovery of substantial amounts of money allegedly embezzled during his regime. As of 2020, over $3.6 billion had been retrieved. In 2022, the UK returned $23 million, and the US followed with $20 million. France repatriated another $150 million in 2023.
Maryam Abacha expressed frustration over the continued focus on her husband’s legacy, questioning the motives behind the repeated accusations. “Why are you blaming somebody? Is that tribalism or a religious problem?” she asked. “We should stop telling lies and blaming people.”
She also criticized the media for perpetuating what she sees as misinformation. “The press should try to educate the people… You are not here to bastardize people,” she said. “27 years ago and you are still talking about Abacha. He must be very powerful and loved by Nigerians.”
On Nigeria’s economy during Abacha’s rule, Maryam argued that the country was relatively stable, with strong foreign reserves and low external debt. “So, where did he steal the money from?” she asked.
In a more controversial statement, she accused Nigerians of being too quick to believe allegations. “Because Nigerians are fools, they listen to everything,” she said. She emphasized that no single individual, including her husband, was greater than the country. “We are all human beings, for goodness’ sake. All these wahala should stop.”
Addressing the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, Maryam denied that her husband played a role. Former president Ibrahim Babangida, in his memoir, claimed the announcement was made without his knowledge. Maryam said, “All I know is that the annulment was not done by my husband. If it was him, that means he was very powerful… even more powerful than the president.”
