Sani Abacha
Sani Abacha | |
|---|---|
Portrait, c. 1993–1998 | |
| 10th Head of State of Nigeria | |
| In office 17 November 1993 – 8 June 1998 | |
| Chief of General Staff | Oladipo Diya |
| Preceded by | Ernest Shonekan |
| Succeeded by | Abdulsalami Abubakar |
| Defence Minister of Nigeria | |
| In office August 1990 – 8 June 1998 | |
| President | Ibrahim Babangida Ernest Shonekan Himself |
| Preceded by | Domkat Bali |
| Succeeded by | Abdulsalami Abubakar |
| Chief of Defence Staff | |
| In office August 1990 – 17 November 1993 | |
| President | Ibrahim Babangida Ernest Shonekan |
| Preceded by | Domkat Bali |
| Succeeded by | Oladipo Diya |
| Chief of Army Staff | |
| In office August 1985 – August 1990 | |
| President | Ibrahim Babangida |
| Preceded by | Ibrahim Babangida |
| Succeeded by | Salihu Ibrahim |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 September 1943 Kano, Northern Region, British Nigeria (now Kano, Kano, Nigeria) |
| Died | 8 June 1998 (aged 54) Aso Villa, Abuja, Nigeria |
| Spouse | Maryam Abacha |
| Children | See
|
| Occupation | Military officer |
| Signature | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Nigeria |
| Branch/service | Nigerian Army |
| Years of service | 1963–1998 |
| Rank | General |
| Battles/wars | Nigerian Civil War First Liberian Civil War |
Sani Abacha GCFR ((ⓘ); (20 September 1943 – 8 June 1998) was a Nigerian military dictator and statesman who ruled Nigeria with an iron fist as military head of state from 1993 following a palace coup d'état until his death in 1998.
Abacha's seizure of power was the last successful coup d'état in Nigerian military history. He wielded power with an unyielding attitude and his rule heralded an unprecedented total disregard for human rights with several political assassinations and summary executions of dissidents and political opponents in Nigeria. His rule drew disrepute to the country with Nigeria becoming a pariah state in international relations particularly with regards to the execution of environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa.
Sani Abacha was considered one of the twentieth century's most corrupt dictators and as a kleptocrat for the alleged embezzlement of US$2–5 billion. Abacha, and his family, allegedly hid most of the loot abroad in Switzerland, as well as in other jurisdictions including Liechtenstein, the United Kingdom and the United States. Abacha's death on 8 June 1998 brought about the Nigerian Fourth Republic a year later and he was succeeded as Nigeria's head of state by General Abdulsalami Abubakar.