Maryam Abacha has dismissed long-standing allegations that her late husband, General Sani Abacha, looted Nigeria’s treasury. Speaking in a televised interview with TVC on Sunday, the former First Lady insisted that there is no credible evidence proving that the former military ruler stashed away billions.
“Who is the witness of the monies that were being stashed? Did you see the signature or the evidence of any monies stashed abroad?” she asked. Maryam questioned why the media and Nigerians continue to focus on her husband nearly 27 years after his death.
Maryam Abacha says stashed money claims are unproven
Mrs. Abacha maintained that the so-called recovered funds attributed to her late husband were actually monies kept “for Nigeria” that vanished shortly after his death. “And the monies that my husband kept for Nigeria, in a few months, the monies vanished. People are not talking about that,” she said.
She also took aim at the allegations, labelling them baseless and politically motivated. According to her, people wrongly accuse her husband simply because of his tribe or religion. “Why are you blaming somebody? Is that tribalism or a religious problem or what is the problem with Nigerians?” she asked.
Abacha widow blasts media and defends husband’s economic legacy
Maryam Abacha did not stop at denying the accusations. She lashed out at the media for keeping the narrative alive for nearly three decades. “People are not that bad. Twenty-seven years ago, and you are still talking about Abacha. He must be very powerful and loved by Nigerians. We thank God for that,” she said.
She defended her husband’s rule, pointing to Nigeria’s economy during his tenure, which she claimed had strong foreign reserves and manageable debt levels. “So where would he have stolen the money from?” she asked. “And because Nigerians are fools, they listen to everything.”
Mrs. Abacha concluded with a call for unity, saying: “Babangida doesn’t make Nigeria alone. Abacha does not make Nigeria alone. Abiola and everybody, nobody is big enough for Nigeria. Even the single man on the street is very important.”
Maryam Abacha denies looting claims and defends late husband’s rule
Maryam Abacha has firmly rejected all accusations that General Sani Abacha looted the country. She believes the allegations lack evidence and are driven by tribal and religious bias. With strong words for both the media and the public, she continues to defend her husband’s legacy decades after his death.
