“The Monies My Husband Kept for Nigeria Vanished in Months” – Maryam Abacha Breaks Silence on Loot Controversy

June 8, 2025 marked the 27th anniversary of the death of Nigeria’s former military head of state, General Sani Abacha. While every anniversary often stirs old debates about his legacy, this year’s commemoration came with a bold and emotional statement from his widow, Maryam Abacha.

In a rare public comment, Maryam claimed that the funds her husband “kept for Nigeria” mysteriously disappeared shortly after his death—and that no one is talking about where they went

“The monies my husband kept for Nigeria vanished in just a few months. No one is talking about that…”

Mrs. Abacha firmly rejected long-standing allegations that her husband looted the national treasury, suggesting instead that the accusations emerged only after his passing in 1998.

“Until he died, no one called my husband a thief. All these accusations came after he was gone. It’s a shame to tell lies on a dead man.”

She stressed that time would eventually reveal the true story behind the so-called “Abacha loot” and appeared to challenge both the government and the public to take a closer look at who actually benefited from those funds.

Beyond the political statements, Maryam also revealed personal anguish. She said that many of those who benefitted from Abacha’s generosity have now turned their backs on the family.

“Even in Kano, people my husband helped won’t greet us today. That is haram. Allah is watching.”

The widow’s comments painted a picture of deep betrayal, isolation, and the emotional toll that decades of public scrutiny have taken on her family.

While Maryam Abacha’s statements have sparked conversation, it’s impossible to ignore the historical facts surrounding the Abacha regime:

• Between 1998 and 2020, an estimated $3.6 billion allegedly looted by the Abacha regime was recovered from foreign accounts and assets.
• Countries such as Switzerland, the U.S., and the U.K. repatriated funds back to Nigeria.
• Successive Nigerian governments, from Obasanjo to Buhari, pledged to use the funds for social investments, though details and outcomes remain murky.