My Husband Didn’t Steal, The Money He Kept For Nigeria Vanished – Maryam Abacha

Maryam Abacha, the widow of former military ruler General Sani Abacha, has dismissed long-standing claims that her late husband looted billions of dollars while in power.

In an interview with TVC on Sunday, Maryam questioned the validity of those allegations and said there’s no solid proof backing them.

Mrs. Abacha challenged the public narrative, asking, “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 went further, claiming that any funds her husband may have secured for the country disappeared soon 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.

Maryam Abacha also expressed frustration that, nearly 30 years after his death, her husband is still being criticized.

The former first lady questioned whether the constant focus on him was driven by regional or religious bias.

“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.”

She also had strong words for the media, saying journalists should be more responsible in how they report stories.

“People are not that bad. 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.

Referring to the more stable economy during her husband’s regime—characterized by rising foreign reserves and lower external debt—Mrs. Abacha questioned the logic behind the corruption accusations.

“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 wrapped up the interview by calling for unity, saying no one person is more important than the country.

“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.

KanyiDaily recalls that in 2023, the Supreme Court dismissed a suit by Sani Abacha’s family, seeking to stop the Federal Government from reopening criminal forfeiture proceedings against the former general.