Maryam Abacha’s explosive claims about her husband’s legacy have shocked Nigerians again. What did she really say? You need to read the full story to understand the storm.
…. Former First Lady Denies Looting Allegations, Questions 27-Year Narrative and Calls Out Successive Governments, Journalists, and Tribal Sentiment
By All Facts Newspaper – June 9, 2025
In a fiery and unapologetic interview that has reignited one of Nigeria‘s most heated debates, Maryam Abacha, widow of late military Head of State General Sani Abacha, has launched a scathing rebuttal of the long-standing allegations that her husband looted billions of dollars from the nation’s treasury.
Speaking during a recent interview with TVC, Mrs. Abacha dismissed the widespread reports of stashed public funds abroad as “lies,” daring anyone to show concrete proof.
“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?”
Her remarks come decades after multiple global financial institutions confirmed the return of hundreds of millions of dollars traced to the Abacha regime, often referred to as “Abacha loot”. Yet, the former First Lady insists the narrative is a political and media fabrication fueled by tribalism, religious bias, and dishonesty.
“Why are we so bad towards each other? Because somebody is a northerner or a southerner? A Muslim or a Christian? It’s not fair,” she added.
In a twist that could raise eyebrows, Maryam claimed that the funds her husband “kept for Nigeria” vanished shortly after his death in 1998.
“In a few months, the monies vanished. People are not talking about that,” she declared, subtly accusing subsequent administrations of misappropriating what she portrays as national savings.
She accused critics of pushing a distorted history, asking rhetorically:
“So where did he steal the money from? And because Nigerians are fools, they listen to everything.”
Her statement is already trending online, particularly the reference to Nigerians as “fools”, which many view as provocative and insulting, especially given the global trail of the Abacha loot recoveries from Switzerland, the UK, the US, and Jersey, among others.
Despite mountains of evidence including government communiqués and repatriation deals, Mrs. Abacha has remained steadfast in her rejection of the official narrative. She believes the persistence of her husband’s name in Nigerian discourse is proof of his “power” and “love by the people”.
“Twenty-seven years ago and you’re still talking about Abacha. He must be very powerful and loved by Nigerians. We thank God for that.”
She also blasted the media for what she calls the bastardization of her husband’s image.
“Journalists should educate the people and not bastardise people,” she warned.
On the nation’s unity, she struck a more conciliatory tone:
“Abacha does not make Nigeria alone. Babangida cannot unmake Nigeria. Even the single man on the street is important. All these wahala should stop.”
Maryam Abacha’s explosive remarks have once again forced Nigerians to re-examine the legacy of one of the country’s most controversial rulers, but also raised deep questions about collective memory, power, truth — and who controls the narrative.
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