Maryam Abacha, the widow of former military Head of State General Sani Abacha, has dismissed longstanding allegations that her late husband embezzled billions of dollars during his tenure, asserting that there is no credible evidence to corroborate such claims.
In an interview with TVC on Sunday, Mrs Abacha challenged the prevailing narrative surrounding her husband’s legacy and questioned the foundation of the accusations.
“Who is the witness to the money that was supposedly hidden away? Did you see the signature or any proof of money stored abroad?” she inquired.
She went on to assert that the funds her husband was said to have secured for Nigeria vanished shortly after his passing.
“The money my husband saved for Nigeria disappeared within a few months. People aren’t discussing that,” she remarked.
Mrs Abacha expressed her discontent with the continued focus on her husband nearly three decades after his death, questioning the underlying motivations for such scrutiny.
“Why are you blaming someone? Is it tribalism or a religious issue, or what exactly is the problem with Nigerians?” she asked. “Why are we so unkind to one another? Just because someone is a northerner or a southerner, a Muslim or a Christian… it’s simply not fair.”
She also called out the media, urging journalists to take on a more constructive role.
“People are not that bad. Twenty-seven years later, and you are still discussing Abacha. He must have been very powerful and loved by Nigerians. We thank God for that,” she stated.
In response to remarks about Nigeria’s relatively stable economy during her husband’s administration, noted for increased foreign reserves and reduced external debt, Mrs Abacha maintained that there was no wrongdoing.
“So, where did he steal the money from? Where could he have possibly stolen it?” she questioned. “And because Nigerians are gullible, they believe everything.”
She urged for unity and mutual respect among Nigerians, saying, “Babangida does not represent Nigeria alone. Abacha does not represent Nigeria alone. Abiola and everyone else – no one is significant enough to define Nigeria. Even the individual on the street is very important. We are all human beings, for goodness’ sake. All this conflict should cease.”
