Everything about Sani Abacha totally explained
General
Sani Abacha (
Kano,
20 September 1943 –
Abuja,
8 June 1998) was a Nigerian military leader and politician. He was the
de facto President of
Nigeria from 1993 to 1998.
Political life
Abacha was a
Muslim of
Kanuri extraction. As a young man, he was trained at various Nigerian and British
military colleges. He joined the
Nigerian military and had been promoted to
brigadier by 1983.
Abacha took over power from the caretaker government of Chief
Ernest Shonekan, which was put into place by General
Ibrahim Babangida after his annulment of the
12 June 1993 elections (won by
Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola) caused a massive popular uproar. Abacha's government was accused of human rights abuses, especially after the hanging of
Ogoni activist
Ken Saro-Wiwa by the
Auta tribunal (only one of several cases against Ogoni activists opposed to the exploitation of Nigerian land by multinational oil companies); Abiola and
Olusegun Obasanjo were jailed for treason, and
Wole Soyinka charged in absentia with treason.
Abacha was married to
Maryam Abacha and had six sons and three daughters.
Controversy
Corruption allegations
The government of Obasanjo has implicated the deceased general and his family in a wholesale looting of Nigeria's coffers. The extent of his venality seems to have surpassed even that of more notorious African rulers, such as the late
Mobutu Sese Seko.
According to post-Abacha governmental sources, some $3 Although in 2002, Abacha's family accepted to return $1.2 billion that was taken from the central bank. Abacha was listed as the world's fourth most corrupt leader in recent history by Transparency International in 2004. Abacha had also literally laughed in the face of any possible
sanctions by the United States against his government, arguing that the Americans wouldn't do that on account that the oil companies are taking care of the Republicans and the
Congressional Black Caucus takes care of the Democrats, and that all American blacks have a
dual loyalty to African leaders.
The names of Sani Abacha and his widow,
Maryam, are often used in
419 scams; he's “identified” in scam letters as the source for “money” that doesn't exist.
General Abacha served during the controversial execution of
Ken Saro-Wiwa. On
10 November 1995, Saro-Wiwa was hanged by Abacha, resulting in the immediate suspension of Nigeria from the
Commonwealth of Nations.
False usage of Sani Abacha's name by advance fee fraud conmen
The names of Sani Abacha, his widow
Maryam, and son
Mohammed are often used in
advance fee fraud (419) scams; he's "identified" in scam letters as the source for "money" that doesn't exist.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Sani Abacha'.
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