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Maryam Abacha, widow of former Nigerian military ruler General Sani Abacha, has launched a staunch defence of her late husband’s legacy, rejecting long-standing allegations that he looted billions from the nation’s coffers.

In a rare interview with TVC, Mrs. Abacha disputed widely reported claims of corruption during her husband’s regime and insisted that the late general was a patriot who saved money for Nigeria—money she claims vanished mysteriously after his death.

“Who is the witness of the monies that were being stashed?” she asked. “Did you see the signature or the evidence of any monies stashed abroad? And the monies that my husband kept for Nigeria, in a few months, the monies vanished. People are not talking about that.”

General Sani Abacha ruled Nigeria from 1993 until his sudden death in 1998. In the decades since, multiple Nigerian administrations have announced the recovery of funds looted during his time in power. According to official records, more than $3.6 billion had been recovered by 2020, with several additional tranches returned by countries like the UK, the US, and France in recent years.

In May 2022, the United Kingdom repatriated $23 million linked to the Abacha regime. The United States followed with a $20 million return in August of the same year. France returned $150 million in 2023, all reportedly traced to accounts associated with Abacha.

But Maryam Abacha dismissed the credibility of those claims and criticised what she described as a relentless focus on her husband nearly three decades after his death.

“27 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 also expressed frustration with the media’s portrayal of her husband and urged journalists to play a more constructive national role.

“You are here to educate the people, to inform the people and to entertain. You are here to help the country. You are not here to bastardise people. People are not that bad.”

Maryam further argued that Nigeria’s economic indicators under Abacha—such as reduced external debt and growing foreign reserves—contradicted claims of widespread looting.

“So, where did he steal the money from? So where would he have stolen the money from?” she queried.

She also questioned Nigerians who accept official accounts of corruption without scrutiny. “And because Nigerians are fools, they listen to everything,” she said, in a remark likely to spark controversy.

On the sensitive issue of the annulment of the historic June 12, 1993 election, widely believed to have been won by the late MKO Abiola, Maryam distanced her husband from the political decision, which is typically attributed to General Ibrahim Babangida.

“All I know is that the annulment was not done by my husband,” she stated. “If it was him, that means he was very powerful… even more powerful than the president.”

Maryam Abacha’s comments come amid ongoing public debates about corruption, historical accountability, and the legacy of Nigeria’s military era. Her interview is expected to reignite discussions about one of the most controversial chapters in the country’s post-independence history.

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