No evidence my husband looted Nigeria’s money – Maryam Abacha

Maryam Abacha, widow of Nigeria’s former military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, has refuted longstanding claims that her late husband looted billions of dollars during his rule.

In a recent interview with TVC, Mrs. Abacha questioned the credibility of those peddling the allegations, demanding concrete evidence to support their claims.

“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.

She further claimed that whatever funds her husband secured for the country reportedly disappeared 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 alleged.

Expressing her frustration over the continued focus on her husband’s name, Mrs. Abacha questioned the motives behind the persistent scrutiny. “Why are you blaming somebody? Is that tribalism or a religious problem or what is the problem with Nigerians?” she queried.

She appealed for national unity and understanding, adding, “I pray for Nigerians. I pray for all of us. I pray that we should have goodness in our hearts. We should stop telling lies and blaming people.”

The widow also criticised the media, urging journalists to prioritise educating the public over maligning individuals. “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.”

Reacting to remarks about Nigeria’s relatively stable economy under her husband, marked by growing foreign reserves and lower external debt, Mrs. Abacha reiterated her position, denying that her husband stole public funds and challenged anyone with evidence to come forward.

“So, where did he steal the money from? So where would he have stolen the money from?” she asked. “And because Nigerians are fools, they listen to everything.”

She called for a stop to the blame culture and emphasised the importance of respecting all Nigerians, regardless of tribe, religion, or status. “Babangida doesn’t make Nigeria alone. Abacha does not make Nigeria alone. Abiola and everybody, nobody is big enough for Nigeria. We are all very important. Even the single man on the street is very important. We are all human beings, for goodness’ sake. All these wahala should stop,” she said.