Maryam Abacha, the widow of former Nigerian military ruler General Sani Abacha, has strongly denied long-standing allegations that her late husband looted the nation’s treasury during his time in office.
In a recent interview on television, she described the accusations as unfounded and lacking credible evidence, asserting that the narrative has been unjustly repeated for decades.
During the interview, Mrs. Abacha questioned the basis for the widespread claims of embezzlement.
She challenged critics to present concrete evidence, asking rhetorically, “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 further argued that any funds her husband may have held in trust for the nation mysteriously disappeared after he died in 1998.
Maryam Abacha also suggested that the continued circulation of these allegations might be rooted in ethnic and religious prejudice.
She said that nearly three decades after her husband’s death, she remains disturbed by how easily Nigerians accept and spread unverified claims.
According to her, this reflects a broader issue of misinformation and manipulation within society.
She criticised the media’s role in propagating these narratives, urging journalists to focus on constructive contributions to national development rather than on what she described as character assassination. “You are here to help the country. You are not here to bastardise people,” she stated.
Defending her husband’s administration, Maryam pointed to economic indicators such as rising foreign reserves and low external debt during Abacha’s rule. Maryam Abacha asked, “Where did he steal the money from?” and implied that the accusations were inconsistent with the country’s financial state at the time.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
