Abacha Died of Cardiac Arrest During Intercourse, Not Poisoning — Ex-DSS Chief

Former Assistant Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Dennis Amachree, has provided a fresh account of the death of Nigeria’s former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, claiming the late military ruler died from a cardiac arrest during an intimate encounter at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Amachree made the revelation in his newly released memoir, DSS @40: My Journey Behind the Shield, offering what he described as the true account of the circumstances surrounding Abacha’s controversial death on June 8, 1998.

Abacha, who ruled Nigeria from November 1993 until his death in office, has remained one of the country’s most controversial leaders, with his demise giving rise to numerous conspiracy theories over the years.

According to excerpts of the book published by The Nation, Amachree, who was serving as Assistant Director of Operations and Intelligence at the Lagos DSS Command at the time, said Abacha died at about 4:05 a.m. while in the company of a female pharmacist at the Aso Rock Guest House.

He explained that the woman had accompanied her elder sister, described as Abacha’s girlfriend, to the Presidential Villa after the Head of State reportedly purchased a new SUV for the elder sister.

Amachree said the elder sister later returned to her hotel, leaving the pharmacist alone with Abacha.

He wrote that shortly after they became intimate, the woman noticed that the military ruler had suddenly become motionless and unresponsive.

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According to him, the pharmacist checked Abacha’s pulse but found none before hurriedly dressing up and requesting a vehicle back to her hotel.

“The soldier on duty, unaware of what had happened, arranged transportation for her,” Amachree wrote.

He added that after informing her elder sister about the incident, the pharmacist was immediately taken to the Abuja airport, where she boarded a 7:00 a.m. Okada Air flight to Lagos.

Amachree disclosed that Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, Abacha’s Chief Security Officer, was informed of the president’s condition around 5:00 a.m. and immediately sought to locate the woman who had been with him.

However, by the time security operatives arrived at the Hilton Hotel in Abuja, the pharmacist had already departed for Lagos.

The retired DSS officer said he later received instructions from the DSS headquarters in Abuja to locate and interrogate the woman in Lagos.

According to him, she was traced to Ogudu and brought to his office for questioning.

Amachree recalled that her first words during the interrogation were: “I did not kill him, he died on top of me.”

He said after obtaining her detailed statement, he contacted the DSS headquarters, after which the woman was flown back to Abuja.

The former intelligence officer maintained that the pharmacist’s account supports the conclusion that Abacha suffered a coitus-induced cardiac arrest.

He argued that the testimony dismisses several longstanding claims surrounding the former military ruler’s death, including allegations that he was poisoned with an apple or died after being entertained by foreign women.

Amachree insisted that the account presented in his book reflects the actual events and should put to rest decades of speculation over Abacha’s final moments.

General Sani Abacha died on June 8, 1998, after nearly five years in power. His death came less than a month before the death of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, the presumed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, who died in detention while under the Abacha regime.

Abacha Died of Cardiac Arrest During Intercourse, Not Poisoning — Ex-DSS Chief

NLC Announces Nationwide Campaign for New Minimum Wage, National Pension for Retirees

• Joe Ajaero says it is a ‘historical injustice’ for retirees to live below poverty line after years of service

ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced plans to launch a nationwide campaign for a comprehensive review of the national minimum wage while also pushing for the introduction of a national minimum pension for retirees, describing the current plight of pensioners as a “historical injustice” that must be urgently addressed.

Speaking during the inauguration of the Comrade Godwin Abumisi Pensioners’ Legacy House and Multipurpose Hall in Abuja, NLC President Joe Ajaero said the welfare of pensioners must receive the same level of attention as that of serving workers, stressing that organised labour would no longer advocate improved wages without demanding better living conditions for retirees.

“The Nigeria Labour Congress is currently in the preparatory stages for a major national struggle for a comprehensive review of the national minimum wage,” Ajaero said. “However, it is no longer acceptable to discuss the welfare of workers without also discussing the welfare of those who have completed their active years of service.”

Describing the current condition of many retirees as unacceptable, the labour leader said it was a “historical injustice” for citizens who devoted their productive years to national service to be left in poverty after retirement. “It is a historical injustice that men and women who devoted their youth, strength and productive years to the service of this nation should be condemned to live below the poverty line after retirement,” he said.

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The NLC president attributed the worsening plight of pensioners to the rising cost of living, galloping inflation and the increasing prices of food, healthcare and transportation, which have made life increasingly difficult for many retirees across the country. He noted that many retirees now survive on pensions that can no longer meet their basic needs, describing the situation as one that requires urgent government intervention. “We cannot continue to allow our senior citizens to survive on pensions that have become poverty wages. Every retiree deserves to live with dignity after decades of faithful service to the nation,” Ajaero stated.

The NLC president urged pensioners across the country to remain united and prepare to support the campaign for improved retirement benefits, describing the newly inaugurated Legacy House as a centre for mobilisation, strategic engagement and solidarity ahead of the planned campaign. He called on workers to remain united in defending their collective interests, noting that the labour movement would continue to demand the payment of outstanding pension arrears and the implementation of a pension system that guarantees retirees’ dignity and financial security. “We will continue to demand the immediate payment of all outstanding pension arrears and the implementation of a pension regime that guarantees every retiree a life of dignity and security,” Ajaero said.

According to the NLC president, the Congress will not only push for a new national minimum wage but will also demand the establishment of a national minimum pension to guarantee retirees a decent standard of living. He said the completion of the Legacy House should encourage workers and supporters of the labour movement to strengthen their collective efforts in ensuring that government meets its obligations to both serving workers and retirees. “Together, we shall continue to fight until every Nigerian worker and pensioner receives the justice, respect and welfare they deserve,” Ajaero stated.

The event, which took place at the NUP’s national headquarters in Abuja, also featured the inauguration of the union’s corporate headquarters, a multi-purpose hall and apartment complex commissioned by Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf. Governor Yusuf, who was honoured as the Most Pensioners-Friendly Governor of the Year 2024, announced a donation of ₦100 million to the Nigeria Union of Pensioners and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to clearing pension liabilities in Kano State.

The NUP President, Comrade Godwin Abumisi, commended the Kano State Government for paying ₦32 billion out of the ₦48.6 billion gratuity liabilities inherited by the administration, describing the intervention as a major relief for thousands of pensioners and their families. Abumisi also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving pension increases, clearing pension arrears and settling accrued rights, which he said had significantly improved the welfare of pensioners nationwide.

NLC Announces Nationwide Campaign for New Minimum Wage, National Pension for Retirees

Oyo Grand Chief Imam Backs FRSC’s Plan to Ban Preaching in Commercial Buses

• Sheikh Bilal Akeugberu says commercial vehicles are ‘means of transportation, not places of worship’, urges National Assembly to expedite legislation

IBADAN, Nigeria – The Grand Chief Imam of Oyo Land, Sheikh Al-Imam (Barrister) Bilal Husayn Akinola Akeugberu, has thrown his weight behind the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC)‘s proposed legislation seeking to prohibit preaching and hawking inside commercial buses, describing the initiative as a timely and commendable step towards safeguarding lives and ensuring public safety on Nigerian roads.

In a statement issued from his office on Monday, the respected Islamic scholar noted that the primary responsibility of every government is the protection of lives and property, stressing that any policy capable of reducing avoidable road crashes deserves the support of all well-meaning Nigerians irrespective of religious, ethnic or political affiliation.

“Commercial buses are means of transportation, not places of worship or religious gatherings. Passengers board vehicles to travel safely to their destinations, while drivers are expected to concentrate fully on the road. Any activity capable of distracting drivers or creating unnecessary tension among passengers should not be encouraged,” the Grand Chief Imam said.

The respected Islamic scholar observed that incessant preaching inside commercial vehicles has over the years become a source of distraction to drivers and discomfort to many passengers. He added that such practices have, in some instances, generated arguments, altercations and avoidable security concerns within public transport.

The Grand Chief Imam maintained that countries with advanced road safety cultures do not permit activities that interfere with drivers’ concentration, emphasizing that Nigeria should equally adopt policies that prioritize the sanctity of human life over practices capable of endangering road users. He therefore urged the National Assembly to give expeditious consideration to the proposed legislation in the overall interest of public safety.

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While reiterating that the constitutional right to freedom of religion remains sacrosanct, the Grand Chief Imam explained that every right must be exercised responsibly and within the limits prescribed by law, particularly where public safety is involved. He further appealed to religious leaders across all faiths to educate their followers on the need to conduct religious activities only in appropriate and designated places, rather than inside commercial vehicles where they may constitute a distraction or inconvenience to others.

The Grand Chief Imam also warned individuals or groups who may contemplate defying the proposed law, once duly enacted, to desist from taking the law into their own hands. “Nigeria is a nation governed by the rule of law. Once the legislative process is concluded and the law comes into force, every citizen and resident has a constitutional obligation to obey it. Anyone who feels aggrieved has the legitimate right to seek judicial interpretation through the courts rather than resorting to self-help or acts capable of undermining public order,” he said.

He urged security agencies and relevant enforcement authorities to implement the law professionally, fairly and without discrimination, ensuring that no individual or religious group is singled out for selective enforcement.

The Grand Chief Imam concluded by calling on Nigerians to collectively embrace every lawful measure aimed at reducing road accidents, preserving human lives and promoting peaceful coexistence, reminding citizens that the preservation of life remains one of the highest objectives recognised by both the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the noble teachings of Islam.

Oyo Grand Chief Imam Backs FRSC’s Plan to Ban Preaching in Commercial Buses