By 

Patrick Ngwaogu 

 

Former First Lady, Hajia Maryam Sani Abacha, has firmly denied long-standing allegations that her late husband, General Sani Abacha, looted Nigeria’s treasury during his tenure as Head of State from 1993 to 1998.

In a rare public statement, Mrs. Abacha claimed that contrary to widespread reports, her husband did not steal public funds, but instead secured money for the country — which, she alleged, was only misappropriated after his sudden death in office.

“All these accusations that he stole money are baseless,” she said. “The truth is that he saved money for Nigeria. If anyone says otherwise, let them come forward with facts that are unassailable.”

The comments reignite one of Nigeria’s most controversial debates surrounding the legacy of General Abacha, whose regime was both politically repressive and economically opaque. Despite multiple documented asset recoveries linked to the late dictator’s foreign bank accounts, his widow insists the narrative has been skewed by political motives.

Over the past 24 years, successive Nigerian administrations have recovered an estimated $5.12 billion in funds linked to General Abacha from multiple countries and offshore accounts.

Records show that:

• In 1998, shortly after Abacha’s death, $750 million was recovered from his family.

• $64 million was returned from Switzerland in 2000, followed by $1.2 billion in 2002.

• Additional recoveries include $160 million (2003), $88 million from Jersey and Switzerland, and $461.3 million from Switzerland in 2005.

• A further $44.1 million and $227 million were returned the same year.

These funds were traced and repatriated through international cooperation involving countries such as Switzerland, the United States, and the United Kingdom, under various asset recovery frameworks.

Despite these figures, Mrs. Abacha remains adamant that her husband’s financial dealings were misrepresented.

“If he truly stole that much, as they say, let’s see the documents and let the people judge,” she added.

General Sani Abacha came to power in November 1993 after overthrowing the transitional government of Chief Ernest Shonekan, in the aftermath of the annulled June 12 presidential election under General Ibrahim Babangida.

Abacha’s rule was marked by widespread crackdowns on dissent, the detention of political opponents, and the execution of activist Ken Saro-Wiwa. Yet some of his defenders highlight his infrastructure push, efforts at economic stabilization, and oil sector reforms.

However, the long list of asset recovery operations undercuts those arguments in the eyes of many Nigerians who still view his regime as one of the most corrupt in the nation’s history.

Mrs. Abacha’s latest comments are likely to spark fresh public debate as Nigeria continues to reflect on the long-term impact of military rule on national development, accountability, and transparency.

 

While some still admire the late general for his assertive leadership, the overwhelming international consensus — backed by financial trail evidence — paints a different picture.

 

As Nigeria continues its fight against corruption, the ghost of the Abacha era remains a potent symbol of both authoritarian excess and the enduring need for institutional reform.