The family of late General Sani Abacha has denied claims made by former Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, in his newly launched book, “A Journey in Service”, where he alleged that Abacha was responsible for the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.

In a statement, the Abacha family, represented by Mohammed Abacha, For the Abacha Family, stated that General Sani Abacha was neither the Head of State nor the Commander-in-Chief at the time the June 12 election was annulled. “The decision to annul the election was made under the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida, who, as the then Head of State, held absolute executive powers and was solely responsible for the actions of his government,” Mohammed Abacha said.

The family emphasized that any attempt to shift the blame onto General Sani Abacha is a deliberate distortion of historical facts. “For years, various actors have attempted to rewrite the history of that critical period in Nigeria’s democratic evolution. However, the facts remain unchanged,” Mohammed Abacha noted.

Mohammed Abacha also expressed appreciation to Nigerians who have risen in defense of General Sani Abacha, saying their commitment to truth and historical accuracy is deeply appreciated. “We acknowledge the outpouring of support from those who refuse to allow history to be distorted,” he said.

The Abacha family also acknowledged General Sani Abacha’s time in leadership and the role he played in the nation’s development. “His contributions, like those of past leaders, remain part of our country’s history. We believe that history is best judged with fairness and objectivity,” Mohammed Abacha said.

The family regretted that Babangida’s book missed the opportunity to provide a truthful and objective account of past events. “As one public commentator aptly put it, honesty, sincerity, and integrity are virtues not commonly associated with the author,” Mohammed Abacha said.