Sani Abacha Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! == Head of state == Abacha ruled as Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the [[Nigerian Armed Forces|Armed Forces]] of the [[Federal Republic of Nigeria]] from 1993 to 1998. In September 1994, he issued a decree that placed his government above the jurisdiction of the courts<ref>{{cite book |last=Gros |first=Jean-Germa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sWaMNpVEPTgC&pg=PA67 |title=Democratization in Late Twentieth-Century Africa: Coping with Uncertainty: Coping with Uncertainty |date=24 September 1998 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-0-313-37090-8}}</ref> effectively giving him absolute power. Another decree gave him the right to detain anyone for up to three months without trial. He further abrogated Decree 691 of 1993.<ref>{{cite web |date=7 September 1994 |title=Nigerian Military Ruler Assumes Absolute Power |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/07/world/nigerian-military-ruler-assumes-absolute-power.html |publisher=AP |via=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees |title=Refworld {{!}} U.S. Department of State Country Report on Human Rights Practices 1998 - Nigeria |url=https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aa7e8.html |access-date=24 May 2020 |website=Refworld}}</ref> === Regime maintenance === Abacha assembled a personal security force of 3,000 men trained in [[North Korea]]. Abacha's chief security officer [[Hamza al-Mustapha]] had an iron grip on the apparatus of military-security. The [[Nigeria Police Force]] underwent a large scale retraining. The state cracked down ruthlessly on criminals and dissidents, the [[National Democratic Coalition (Nigeria)|National Democratic Coalition]] was attributed with several bombings across the country, and several members were arrested.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Refugees|first=United Nations High Commissioner for|title=Nigeria: Bombing incidents at Lagos airport between June 1996 and November 1997, including identity of persons injured, reaction of authorities and outcome of investigations or prosecutions|url=https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab4d1c.html|access-date=2020-05-13|website=Refworld}}</ref> When [[Moshood Abiola]] proclaimed himself president, he was jailed for [[treason]] and subsequently died in custody.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nigeria: Human Rights Watch Africa|url=https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Urgent_Action/apic_52396.html|access-date=2020-05-24|website=www.africa.upenn.edu}}</ref> Also, former military ruler [[Olusegun Obasanjo]] was jailed for treason and accused of plotting a coup together with General [[Oladipo Diya]].<ref>{{cite web|date=10 June 1998|title=NEW NIGERIA CHIEF PLEDGES A RETURN TO CIVILIAN RULE|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/06/10/world/new-nigeria-chief-pledges-a-return-to-civilian-rule.html|work=The New York Times}}</ref> In 1997, General [[Shehu Yar'Adua]] who was also jailed died in custody. Abacha's regime was accused of [[human rights]] abuses, especially after the hanging of [[Ogoni]] activist [[Ken Saro-Wiwa]] (only one of several executions of Ogoni activists opposed to the exploitation of [[Petroleum industry in Nigeria|Nigerian resources]] by the [[Multinational corporation|multinational]] [[petroleum]] company, [[Royal Dutch Shell]]), whose death later led to the eviction of Nigeria from the Commonwealth Nations.<ref name="Arnold7892222">{{cite book|last=Arnold|first=Guy|url=https://archive.org/details/africamodernhist00arno|title=Africa: A Modern History|date=2005|publisher=Atlantic Books|isbn=9781843541769|location=London|page=[https://archive.org/details/africamodernhist00arno/page/789 789]|url-access=registration}}</ref> [[Wole Soyinka]] was charged in absentia with treason.<ref name="eb222" /> Abacha's regime suffered opposition externally by pro-democracy activists. === National economy === Abacha's administration oversaw an increase in the country's foreign exchange reserves from $494 million in 1993 to $9.6 billion by the middle of 1997, and reduced the external debt of Nigeria from $36 billion in 1993 to $27 billion by 1997.<ref>{{cite web|title=Why we honoured Abacha - Nigerian government - Premium Times Nigeria|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/156004-why-we-honoured-abacha-nigerian-government.html|date=1 March 2014|language=en-GB|access-date=24 May 2020}}</ref><ref name="premiumtimes3">{{cite web|url=http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/156004-why-we-honoured-abacha-nigerian-government.html|title=Why we honoured Abacha β Nigerian government β Premium Times Nigeria|work=Premium Times Nigeria|date=March 2014}}</ref> Abacha also constructed between 25 and 100 km of urban road in major cities such as [[Kano (city)|Kano]], [[Gusau]], [[Benin City|Benin]], [[Funtua]], [[Zaria]], [[Enugu]], [[Kaduna]], Aba,<ref>https://www.britannica.com/place/Aba-Nigeria</ref> [[Lagos]], [[Lokoja]] and [[Port Harcourt]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Why did a U.S. magazine label Nigerian leader Sani Abacha as "Thug of the Year" in 1995?|url=https://www.ogoninews.com/ogoni/443-why-did-a-u-s-magazine-label-nigerian-leader-sani-abacha-as-thug-of-the-year-in-1995|last=Editor|website=Ogoni News|language=en-GB|access-date=24 May 2020}}</ref> Abacha brought the privatisation programs of the Ibrahim Babangida administration to a halt, reduced an inflation rate of 54% inherited from Ernest Shonekan to 8.5% between 1993 and 1998, all while the nation's primary commodity, oil was at an average of $15 per barrel.<ref name="premiumtimes3" /> GDP growth, despite being estimated to be higher than the 2.2% growth in 1995, was largely limited to the petroleum sector.<ref>United States Department of State, ''Nigeria Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 1996'', 30 Jan 1997, available at: https://1997-2001.state.gov/global/human_rights/1996_hrp_report/nigeria.html</ref> === Embezzlement of state funds === The unprecedented economic achievements coincided with the rapid expansion of embezzlement hitherto unseen in the history of [[corruption in Nigeria]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-01-03 |title=Revealing the Ultimate 2020 List: The 10 Most Corrupt Politicians in the World - The Sina Times |url=https://www.sinatimes.com/2020/01/03/revealing-the-ultimate-2020-list-the-10-most-corrupt-politicians-in-the-world/ |access-date=2024-01-03 |language=en-US}}</ref> in the alleged saga known as "Abacha loot".<ref>{{cite news |date=28 January 2021 |title=Sani Abacha - the hunt for the billions stolen by Nigeria's ex-leader |language=en-GB |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54929254 |access-date=24 February 2022}}</ref> Abacha's national security adviser, Alhaji [[Ismaila Gwarzo]], was accused by the government of President [[Olusegun Obasanjo]] to have played a central role in the looting and transfer of money to [[Offshore account|overseas accounts]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/26/news/26iht-swiss.2.t_3.html|title=Swiss Freeze A Dictator's Giant Cache|author=Elizabeth Olson|date=26 January 2000|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=24 June 2011}}</ref> Abacha's son, [[Mohammed Abacha]] and best friend Alhaji Mohammed M. Sada were also involved. A preliminary report published by the [[Abdulsalam Abubakar]] transitional government in November 1998 described the process. The report mentioned that Sani Abacha told Ismaila Gwarzo to provide fake national security funding requests, which Abacha approved. The funds were usually sent in cash or travellers' cheques by the [[Central Bank of Nigeria]] to Gwarzo, who took them to Abacha's house. Mohammed Sada then arranged to launder the money to offshore accounts. An estimated $1.4 billion in cash was delivered in this way.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RGvSopqOnx0C&pg=PA178|title=Growing apart: oil, politics, and economic change in Indonesia and Nigeria|last=Lewis|first=Peter|publisher=University of Michigan Press|year=2007|isbn=978-0-472-06980-4|page=178}}</ref> In 2004, a list of the ten most self-enriching leaders in the previous two decades was released;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.transparency.org/content/download/4459/26786/file/Introduction_to_political_corruption.pdf|title=Introduction to Political Corruption|date=25 March 2004|website=transparency.org|location=London|page=13}}</ref> in order of amount allegedly stolen, the fourth-ranked of these was Abacha and his family who are alleged to have embezzled $1 billion β $5 billion.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/19/world/late-nigerian-dictator-looted-nearly-500-million-swiss-say.html|title=Late Nigerian Dictator Looted Nearly $500 Million, Swiss Say|date=19 August 2004|work=The New York Times|access-date=9 April 2010}}</ref> In 2002, false rumours circulated that Abacha's family purportedly agreed to return $1.2 billion. Sources in the Obasanjo administration disclosed that the whole Abacha loot was politicised by the administration for his re-election bid.<ref>The Worldwatch Institute. (2003) ''Vital Signs 2003'', The Worldwatch Institute. p. 115. {{ISBN|0-393-32440-0}}.</ref> On 7 August 2014, the [[United States Department of Justice]] announced the forfeiture of US$480 million, the largest in its history, to the Nigerian government.<ref name="DOJ2222">{{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/us-forfeits-over-480-million-stolen-former-nigerian-dictator-largest-forfeiture-ever-obtained|title=U.S. Forfeits Over $480 Million Stolen by Former Nigerian Dictator in Largest Forfeiture Ever Obtained Through a Kleptocracy Action|website=The United States Department of Justice|date=28 August 2014|access-date=23 August 2015}}</ref> [[Jersey]] discovered more than $267 million in funds that were allegedly laundered through the U.S. banking system and deposited in a Jersey account (Β£210m in British pounds). The U.S. Justice Department, Jersey courts and the government of Nigeria completed a civil asset forfeiture against the funds and they will be divided between those countries.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-jersey-48509274|title=Dictator's Β£210m seized from Jersey account|date=4 June 2019|access-date=23 June 2019|language=en-GB}}</ref> === National politics === {{Context||details=|date=April 2020}} <mapframe latitude="9.058702" longitude="8.525391" zoom="4" width="200" height="145" align="right"> { "type": "FeatureCollection", "features": [ { "type": "Feature", "properties": {}, "geometry": { "type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [ [ [ 9.7119140625, 7.2534960500695 ], [ 9.7119140625, 7.1663003819032 ], [ 9.68994140625, 7.2099003143688 ], [ 9.7998046875, 7.4278365287383 ], [ 9.580078125, 6.6427829003562 ], [ 9.77783203125, 7.2316987083671 ], [ 9.66796875, 7.1444988496473 ], [ 9.7998046875, 7.4931964701223 ], [ 9.7119140625, 7.3842578283093 ], [ 9.7998046875, 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2.8179931640625, 8.5918844057982 ] ] ] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": {}, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [ 3.9715576171875004, 7.264394325339779 ] } } ] } </mapframe> Abacha oversaw the reorganisation of Nigeria into six [[Geopolitical zones of Nigeria|geopolitical zones]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=[[Uzodinma Nwala]] |first= |date=1997 |title=Nigeria: Path to Unity and Stability Abuja National Constitutional Conference (1994-95) |url=https://oer.unn.edu.ng/read/nigeria-path-to-unity-and-stability-abuja-national-constitutional-conference-1994-95/file.pdf}}</ref> in order to reflect cultural, economic, and political realities of the regions: * [[North Central (Nigeria)|North Central]]: [[Benue State]], [[Kogi State]], [[Kwara State]], [[Nasarawa State]], [[Niger State]], [[Plateau State]] and [[Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria]]. * [[North East (Nigeria)|North East]]: [[Adamawa State]], [[Bauchi State]], [[Borno State]], [[Gombe State]], [[Taraba State]] and [[Yobe State]]. * [[North West (Nigeria)|North West]]: [[Jigawa State]], [[Kaduna State]], [[Kano State]], [[Katsina State]], [[Kebbi State]], [[Sokoto State]] and [[Zamfara State]]. * [[South East (Nigeria)|South East]]: [[Abia State]], [[Anambra State]], [[Ebonyi State]], [[Enugu State]] and [[Imo State]]. * [[South South]]: [[Akwa Ibom State]], [[Bayelsa State]], [[Cross River State]], [[Delta State]], [[Edo State]] and [[Rivers State]]. * [[South West (Nigeria)|South West]]: [[Ekiti State]], [[Lagos State]], [[Ogun State]], [[Ondo State]], [[Osun State]] and [[Oyo State]]. * * This was achieved after adding additional six states to the already existing 30 to make up the present 36 states in the country.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Yaqub |first=Nuhu |date=September 2023 |title=Quasi-Democracy and Autocracy as Governance Systems in Nigeria An Examination |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/gss.2023.a917368 |journal=Journal of Global South Studies |volume=40 |issue=2 |pages=312β357 |doi=10.1353/gss.2023.a917368 |issn=2476-1419}}</ref> Abacha held a constitutional conference between 1993 and 1995. Early in 1998, Abacha announced that elections would be held on 1 August, with a view toward handing power to a civilian government on 1 October. It later became apparent that Abacha had no intention of relinquishing power. By April 1998, Abacha had coerced the country's five political parties into endorsing him as the sole presidential candidate.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-01-08 |title=NIGERIAN LEADER WINS NOMINATION OF 4 OF 5 PARTIES |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1998/04/20/nigerian-leader-wins-nomination-of-4-of-5-parties/4bc0c14d-b5c6-4dac-901a-90208220ddd2/ |access-date=2024-02-15 |work=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> === Foreign policy === In 1995, following the execution of [[Ken Saro-Wiwa]], Nigeria was suspended from the [[Commonwealth of Nations]].<ref name="NYT-Commonwealth22">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/12/world/commonwealth-suspends-nigeria-over-executions.html|title=Commonwealth Suspends Nigeria Over Executions|website=The New York Times|date=12 November 1995|access-date=23 August 2015}}</ref><ref name="Falola-Heaton22">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XygZjbNRap0C&q=nigeria+as+a+pariah+state+abacha&pg=PR19|title=A History of Nigeria|author=Falola & Heaton|date=24 April 2008|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9781139472036|page=xix|access-date=23 August 2015}}</ref> While hosting [[Nelson Mandela]], Abacha admitted he was advised against interfering with Saro-Wiwa's trialβbut made assurances that he would use his rank in government to commute the sentence if death sentence was pronounced. Justice Ibrahim Auta was the judge presiding over the proceedings, and sentenced Saro-Wiwa to [[Hanging|death by hanging]].<ref>{{cite news |date=2011-03-16 |title=Ken-Saro Wiwa Killer Judge Becomes Acting Chief Judge Of Nigeria |work=saharareporters.com |url=http://saharareporters.com/2011/03/16/ken-saro-wiwa-killer-judge-becomes-acting-chief-judge-nigeria |access-date=5 March 2022}}</ref> Abacha did not commute the sentence.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-01-06 |title=DEATH SENTENCE APPROVED FOR NIGERIAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1995/11/09/death-sentence-approved-for-nigerian-rights-activist/e68321bf-2018-43f3-b6b2-dd4e7aef08c8/ |access-date=2024-02-15 |work=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> In 1997, [[Muammar Gaddafi]]'s West African Tour to Sani Abacha to mark the new Islamic year directly infringed United Nations Sanctions on Libya, yet he was greeted by thousands of Abacha's supporters who came out to demonstrate their loyalty in [[Kano (city)|Kano]].<ref>{{citation|last=AP Archive|title=Nigeria - Gaddafi arrives to celebrate holiday|date=2015-07-21|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuthDUJZAQc| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/CuthDUJZAQc| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live|access-date=2019-03-31}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The Libyan leader sought to strengthen relations with the country, as a way to strengthen his agenda of [[Pan-Africanism]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=1997-05-10 |title=Gaddafi blames West for Islam's image |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12323114.gaddafi-blames-west-for-islams-image/ |access-date=2024-02-15 |website=The Herald |language=en}}</ref> Abacha intervened in the [[First Liberian Civil War|Liberian Civil War]]. Through the [[Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group]], Abacha sent troops to [[Liberia]] to fight against the rising insurgency in the country and political tensions. The Civil War, which began in 1989, saw an influx of [[Nigerian]] troops from 1990 when Abacha was defence minister.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Amao |first=Olumuyiwa Babatunde |last2=Maiangwa |first2=Benjamin |date=2017-01-02 |title=Has the ''Giant'' gone to sleep? Re-assessing Nigeria's response to the Liberian Civil War (1990β1997) and the Boko Haram insurgency (2009β2015) |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00020184.2017.1285665 |journal=African Studies |volume=76 |issue=1 |pages=22β43 |doi=10.1080/00020184.2017.1285665 |issn=0002-0184}}</ref> Despite being repeatedly condemned by the [[US State Department]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/news/feature/1999/11/09/braun|title=Return of the ugly American|work=salon.com|date=10 November 1999 }}</ref> Abacha did have a few ties to [[American politics]]. In 1997, Senator [[James Inhofe]] ([[US Republican Party|R]]-[[Oklahoma]]) travelled to Nigeria to meet with Abacha as a representative of the "[[The Family (Christian political organization)|Family]]", a group of [[Christian evangelism|evangelical Christian]] politicians and civic leaders. Abacha and the Family had a business and political relationship from that point until his death.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://motherjones.com/politics/2010/11/doug-coe-inhofe-siljander-c-street|title=Junkets for Jesus|work=Mother Jones}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=121755993|title=A Different Perspective On 'The Family' And Uganda|date=22 December 2009|work=NPR.org}}</ref> Abacha also developed ties with other American political figures such as Senator [[Carol Moseley Braun]] (D-Illinois) Rev. [[Jesse Jackson]] and Minister [[Louis Farrakhan]]. Several African American political leaders visited Nigeria during his reign and Farrakhan supported his administration. Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. 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