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.
