Maryam Abacha, widow of former military Head of State General Sani Abacha, has rejected long-standing accusations that her late husband embezzled billions of dollars during his tenure.
She insisted there is no credible evidence to support the claims.
In an interview with TVC on Sunday, Mrs. Abacha questioned the basis of the allegations surrounding her husband’s legacy.
“Who witnessed the monies being stashed? Is there any signature or proof of funds hidden abroad?” she asked.
She further claimed that the money her husband allegedly held for Nigeria disappeared shortly after his death, a fact she says has been overlooked.
“The funds my husband kept for Nigeria vanished within a few months after his passing. People don’t talk about that,” she said.
Mrs. Abacha also criticised the continued focus on her husband nearly three decades after his death, questioning the motivations behind such scrutiny.
“Why blame someone? Is it tribalism, religion, or what causes Nigerians to treat each other this way? Because someone is a northerner or southerner, Muslim or Christian—it’s not fair,” she said.
She urged the media to adopt a more constructive approach when covering issues related to her husband.
“People are not all bad. Twenty-seven years later and you’re still talking about Abacha.
He must have been very powerful and loved by Nigerians, and for that, we thank God,” she added.
Addressing remarks about Nigeria’s relatively stable economy during her husband’s regime—characterised by increased foreign reserves and reduced external debt—Mrs. Abacha reiterated her denial of any wrongdoing.
“If he stole money, where would it have come from? Nigerians are not fools to believe everything they hear,” she said.
She concluded with a call for national unity and mutual respect.
“Nigeria is not made by one man—neither Babangida, Abacha, Abiola, nor anyone else. Everyone, even the man on the street, is important.
We are all human beings. All this trouble must stop,” she said.