Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer to late Nigerian Head of State, General Sani Abacha, has publicly refuted claims that the military ruler looted billions of dollars from Nigeria’s treasury.
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In a recent interview with the BBC, Al-Mustapha described the global narrative surrounding Abacha as “politically motivated,” insisting that the recovered funds, often labeled as "Abacha loot," were part of an economic strategy designed to prevent national collapse during a time of crisis in the 1990s.
“There was no money then,” Al-Mustapha explained. “We went to Libya with several people to learn how they were surviving despite 11 years of sanctions.” He claimed Nigeria implemented a Libya-style model that empowered select government-backed companies to import and distribute subsidized goods, stabilizing inflation and ensuring economic resilience.
“These were the things we copied. And by God’s grace, Nigerians were not crushed,” he added.
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Al-Mustapha challenged the accusations of looting, asking rhetorically: “Was the money found in his name? Did he sign for it? Was he caught moving money abroad? The answer is no.”
His comments come in contrast to years of international reports and asset recoveries, including over $300 million returned by the U.S. and Switzerland, believed to be part of the looted funds under the Abacha regime.
He accused unnamed individuals of refusing to return the money after Abacha’s death in 1998 and of crafting a false narrative to smear his legacy. Al-Mustapha also criticized the misapplication of democracy in Nigeria, warning that bad governance under civilian rule had failed to deliver real benefits to the people.
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“Democracy is good, but using it in a way that harms the people is a big problem,” he concluded.
The interview has reignited public debate about Abacha’s legacy and Nigeria’s enduring struggle with corruption, governance, and historical truth.
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