Maryam Abacha, widow of Nigeria’s former military ruler, General Sani Abacha, has rejected long-standing allegations that her late husband hid vast sums in foreign accounts. Instead, she claims he safeguarded funds for Nigeria, monies she says mysteriously vanished from the nation’s reserves shortly after his death.
In a recent interview with TVC, Mrs. Abacha challenged those accusing her husband of corruption to present concrete evidence. “Who is the witness of the money that was being stashed? Did you see the signature or the evidence of any monies stashed abroad?” she asked. “The monies that my husband kept for Nigeria, in a few months the monies vanished. People are not talking about that.”
She criticized what she views as a persistent and unfair narrative surrounding General Abacha’s legacy, stating that even nearly 30 years after his passing, his name remains negatively portrayed in public discourse. Mrs. Abacha also called for national unity, urging Nigerians to look beyond ethnic and religious lines.
Taking aim at the media, she accused journalists of character defamation and urged them to focus on educating and informing the public with facts. “The press should try to educate the people, to inform the people about the right news. You’re not here to bastardize people; people are not that bad as the media paint them to be sometimes,” she said.
Her comments come at a time when the Nigerian government continues to receive repatriated funds often referred to as the “Abacha loot”, from foreign governments. While critics view the recoveries as evidence of large-scale corruption during his regime, supporters often point to macroeconomic data under Abacha’s rule, which showed a rise in foreign exchange reserves and a decline in external debt.
Maryam Abacha’s defense adds a personal layer to an enduring national debate over transparency, accountability, and the true legacy of one of Nigeria’s most controversial leaders.