The Story of Abacha Stashing Public Funds is a Big Lie — Wife

Decades after the late General Sani Abacha’s rule, the narrative of billions allegedly looted and hidden overseas remains one of Nigeria’s most controversial topics. But Maryam Abacha, the former First Lady and widow of the late military leader, insists it’s time to question that story and perhaps put it to rest.

Speaking during an interview on TVC’s Politics on Sunday with Femi Akande, Mrs. Abacha described the corruption allegations against her husband as not only unfair, but based on misinformation and a lack of hard evidence.

“They say my husband stashed billions,” she said. “But who witnessed this? Where is the signature, where is the proof? If he truly kept this money for Nigeria, how come it vanished so quickly after his death? Why are we so quick to blame him?”

The former First Lady challenged the long-standing belief that her husband embezzled public funds, questioning why such a powerful story has persisted despite what she views as the absence of direct evidence.

She also took the opportunity to clarify another chapter of her husband’s time in office, the annulment of the 1993 presidential election. According to her, it was wrong to pin that controversial decision on General Abacha.

“The annulment wasn’t my husband’s doing,” she said. “And if people believe he was the one behind it, then they are saying he was even more powerful than the sitting President at the time. That simply wasn’t the case.”

Beyond defending her husband’s legacy, Mrs. Abacha used the interview to call for greater unity among Nigerians. She lamented how ethnic and religious divisions continue to shape the national conversation.

“Why are we so harsh to each other?” she asked. “Is it because someone is from the North or the South? Is it because of religion? That shouldn’t be how we relate to one another.”

Turning to the country’s current struggles with insecurity, Mrs. Abacha expressed her concern that Nigeria has yet to overcome the lingering insurgency despite having one of the continent’s strongest militaries.

“I don’t understand why insurgents are still around. We’ve seen smaller nations deal with this kind of threat. Nigeria is stronger, wealthier, and more experienced,” she noted.

In her view, the solution lies in stronger cooperation between the government and the armed forces. 

“Our military is capable. If ECOMOG could help restore peace in other countries, why can’t we achieve peace here at home? The government needs to work closely with them,” she urged.

Reflecting on her own experience as First Lady, Mrs. Abacha lamented the lack of continuity in government programs, a challenge she believes still holds Nigeria back.

“Every administration starts its own new programs. Without continuity, there’s no real progress,” she said, pointing to the Africa First Ladies Peace Mission as an example of an initiative that deserves to be sustained.

Finally, Mrs. Abacha defended the strength of military governments, arguing that they had structure and decisiveness, qualities she believes civilian governments sometimes lack.

“No government can fail,” she said. “Military governments had strength and structure. What’s needed today is more cooperation, regardless of who is in charge.”

She ended her interview with a plea for patriotism and responsible journalism. 

“Let’s pray for Nigeria. Let’s speak well of our leaders and help build the nation. The media should focus on truth, not on destroying people’s reputations.”

As Nigeria continues to wrestle with the legacy of past governments, Mrs. Abacha’s words serve as a reminder that history is often more complicated than the headlines suggest and that some stories may still need a second look.