Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has rejected former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar’s assertion that the late General Sani Abacha did not loot Nigeria’s treasury, describing the claim as an attempt to rewrite history.
In a statement titled “Re: Abdulsalami Abubakar: Abacha Never Looted Treasury,” Falana argued that the recovery of billions of dollars linked to Abacha’s family and associates, as well as official government actions taken after his death, contradict the former military ruler’s position.
Abdulsalami had, in an interview published by The Sun on June 26, 2026, claimed that what has become known as the “Abacha loot” was money allegedly set aside by the late Head of State to protect Nigeria against possible international sanctions, and not funds stolen from the public treasury.
However, Falana said Abdulsalami’s own administration established a Special Investigation Panel (SIP) in July 1998 to probe alleged corruption and looting during the Abacha regime.
According to him, the panel, headed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Peter Gana, uncovered large sums of money and assets allegedly diverted through fraudulent security-related transactions involving the Central Bank of Nigeria, members of Abacha’s family and close associates.
Falana noted that the Abdulsalami administration subsequently promulgated the Forfeiture of Assets, Etc. (Certain Persons) Decree No. 53 of 1999, which authorised the forfeiture of funds and properties the government said had been “acquired corruptly and illegally” by Abacha, his family members and associates.
He argued that the decree, signed by Abdulsalami himself, undermines the former Head of State’s recent claim that the recovered assets were government savings.
The senior lawyer also cited subsequent asset recovery efforts by successive administrations, including those of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, which led to the repatriation of billions of dollars from foreign jurisdictions.
He added that several foreign courts, including those in Switzerland, Jersey, France, the United Kingdom and the United States, handled cases relating to assets linked to Abacha, with no judicial finding supporting the claim that the funds were legitimate government reserves.
Falana further recalled that France announced in 2023 its intention to return about $150 million in assets linked to Abacha to Nigeria for development projects.
He maintained that the recovery of assets associated with the late military ruler remains ongoing.
Falana called on Abdulsalami to withdraw his remarks and apologise to Nigerians, arguing that his recent comments were inconsistent with the actions taken by his own administration after Abacha’s death.
He also urged the former Head of State to step down as Chairman of the National Peace Committee, saying public confidence in the committee could be affected by his comments.
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