Falana Demands Abdulsalami Resignation Over Abacha Claims

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has urged former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.) to resign as Chairman of the National Peace Committee following Abdulsalami's assertion that the late General Sani Abacha never looted Nigeria’s treasury. Falana contends that this statement contradicts official records and findings from investigations initiated during Abdulsalami’s administration.

In a statement titled “Re: Abdulsalami Abubakar: Abacha Never Looted Treasury,” Falana accused Abdulsalami of attempting to rewrite history. Abdulsalami claimed that funds recovered from foreign accounts were set aside to protect Nigeria’s finances, based on advice from other African leaders.

Falana rejected this explanation, recalling that Abdulsalami had established a Special Investigation Panel (SIP) in 1998 to investigate corruption during the Abacha regime. The panel's report revealed extensive financial misconduct, leading to the promulgation of the Forfeiture of Assets, Etc. (Certain Persons) Decree No. 53 of 1999, which authorized the forfeiture of over $636 million and other assets linked to Abacha and his associates.