Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has firmly denied long-standing allegations that he received $500 million following the death of late military ruler, General Sani Abacha, describing the claim as completely false and without any basis.
In his newly released autobiography, Call of Duty, Abdulsalami dismissed the rumour as a fabricated story designed to tarnish his image after leaving office. According to him, no individual or group ever handed him such an amount, stressing that the allegation lacked both logic and evidence.
The former military leader questioned how anyone could secretly receive half a billion dollars in cash without any trace, insisting that the story was nothing more than political fiction.
Abdulsalami also responded to claims that his administration depleted Nigeria’s foreign reserves during his 11-month tenure. He explained that his government inherited major financial obligations, including billions of dollars in outstanding foreign exchange commitments, while oil revenues dropped sharply due to unrest in the Niger Delta.
According to him, the administration used available funds to settle inherited debts, conduct the country’s transition elections, host the FIFA World Youth Championship, and execute critical national projects, including the construction of Abuja’s Eagle Square.
Speaking on the late Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Abdulsalami revealed that his government had already begun consultations aimed at securing Abiola’s freedom before his sudden death in July 1998.
He disclosed that discussions were ongoing with various political stakeholders, many of whom held different views on what role Abiola should play after his release. While some demanded his immediate inauguration as president, others proposed a government of national unity or participation in a fresh democratic transition programme.
Abdulsalami said he personally planned to meet Abiola as part of the final stage of consultations but the meeting never happened because the business mogul died before the process could be concluded.
He also rejected claims that Abiola died on the exact day he was meant to be released, describing the story as speculation. According to him, preparations were ongoing, but no official release date had been fixed.
On the controversy surrounding Abiola’s death, Abdulsalami maintained that he does not believe the late democracy icon was poisoned. He said an international autopsy involving American, British, Nigerian and Canadian pathologists concluded that Abiola died of natural causes.
The former Head of State insisted that both the allegations of a secret $500 million payment and claims surrounding Abiola’s death have been distorted over the years, adding that his book provides his account of the events that shaped one of Nigeria’s most critical political transitions.
