Maryam Abacha Denies $5B Loot Claims in Tears

Maryam Abacha Denies $5B Loot Claims in Tears

Maryam Abacha, the widow of former military Head of State General Sani Abacha, has broken her long silence in an emotional outburst. With teary eyes and a firm voice, she rejected the decades-old claims that her late husband stole billions from Nigeria while in power.

In a rare TV interview, Mrs. Abacha said the allegations have no basis in fact. She challenged those who say her husband looted the country’s wealth, demanding hard proof.

“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, questioning the entire narrative that has shadowed her family since 1998.

The late General Abacha, who ruled Nigeria from 1993 until his sudden death in 1998, has long been accused of misappropriating more than $5 billion. But Mrs. Abacha insists that no one ever truly proved it.

She made a fresh claim that stunned many viewers — that large sums of money her husband allegedly secured “for Nigeria” mysteriously disappeared right 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, hinting that others may have benefited from his absence while the public continued to blame her family.

Her voice trembled as she recalled how the media and Nigerians have kept her husband’s name in the headlines for nearly 30 years. To her, it feels unfair and deeply personal.

“Why are you blaming somebody? Is that tribalism or a religious problem or what is the problem with Nigerians?” she asked. “Why are we so bad towards each other? Because somebody is a northerner or a southerner, somebody is a Muslim or a Christian… It’s not fair.”

Mrs. Abacha, often painted as a silent figure during Nigeria’s military years, spoke up this time not only to defend her husband but also to question the country’s obsession with the past.

She made it clear she’s tired of hearing his name in connection to corruption, even though many believe the allegations still carry weight. But for her, the ongoing scrutiny feels more like political bullying and less like truth-seeking.

She also criticized the media sharply. In her view, Nigerian journalists are not helping the country heal or move forward. Instead, she believes they keep fanning the flames of blame.

“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, offering a sarcastic yet defiant response to the continued public attention.

At one point in the interview, the discussion turned to Nigeria’s economy during her husband’s rule. Supporters of General Abacha have long argued that the country’s foreign reserves grew, and its external debt reduced under his leadership.

Mrs. Abacha leaned into this argument, insisting that no one has clearly shown how and where her husband could have stolen such large sums.

“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 didn’t hold back. Her pain was visible, but so was her anger at what she sees as a long-standing injustice. To her, the country’s finger-pointing culture does more harm than good.

In a moment of reflection, she appealed for unity, peace, and respect among Nigerians. According to her, the country’s problems are too big for any single person or leader to solve alone.

“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. We are all human beings, for goodness’ sake. All these wahala should stop,” she said.

While her comments stirred debate, what stood out most was her plea — not just for her husband’s legacy, but for the country to move on.

Maryam Abacha wants Nigerians to stop fighting over the past and start building a better future. Whether or not the public believes her, her message cut deep: the nation must stop blaming and start healing.

The controversy over the Abacha family’s wealth may not end soon. But Maryam Abacha has clearly chosen to speak her truth. Her words, raw and direct, remind Nigerians of a painful chapter still waiting for closure.