A newly released memoir by retired DSS Assistant Director Dennis Amachree has shed fresh light on the mysterious June 1998 death of former Nigerian military ruler General Sani Abacha.
For nearly three decades, the sudden death of Abacha on June 8, 1998, has been shrouded in conspiracy theories, allegations of political poisoning, and international plots.
However, a newly published book titled DSS @40: My Journey Behind the Shield by Amachree has offered a dramatic first-hand account that directly counters long-held assassination myths.
According to Amachree, who personally interrogated the primary witness following the incident at Aso Rock Presidential Villa, the late dictator died of a heart attack during an intimate encounter.
“I did not kill him; he died on top of me,” Amachree quoted the mistress of Abacha as saying.
“The lady pharmacist’s account, on whom Abacha apparently had a coitus-induced cardiac arrest, remains the true position, and puts an end to the conspiracy theories and half-truths that have gone viral,” he stressed.
Amachree, who was the Assistant Director of Operations and Intelligence at the Lagos State SSS Command at the time of the death of Abacha, emphasised that “any other narrative is an act of deceit and a disservice to our countrymen and women.”
He added: “My team located and brought her to my office. I interrogated her myself. The first thing she said to me was: ‘I did not kill him, he died on top of me.’ After her detailed account, I called the Director in Abuja, and she was immediately flown back.”
Recall that Abacha died barely a month before the death of Chief Moshood Abiola, winner of the historic June 12, 1993 presidential election, on July 7, 1998, who was in Abacha’s custody.
Following the protest and furore that followed Military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida’s annulment of Abiola’s victory, he stepped aside and installed an unelected civilian Chief Ernest Shonekan as interim head of state with General Abacha as defence minister.
Nigerians roundly rejected the arrangement, and Gen. Abacha took that opportunity to force out Chief Shonekan, barely three months later. Gen. Abacha then became the head of state and a full-blown dictator.
Amachree, in his book, noted that “Abacha’s five and a half year rule was a period of extreme authoritarianism and brutal repression, adding that his regime was widely condemned for widespread human rights abuses, including arbitrary arrests, torture, and extrajudicial killings.
The author said “the number of political detainees during his tenure reportedly exceeded the total from the entire British colonial period.
He recounted that a few days before the death of Abacha, the late military ruler received emissaries from the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) leader, Yasser Arafat. He also received Pope John Paul 11, who had visited Nigeria to plead for the release of detainees.
According to him, the Pope was the last visitor that Abacha received before his death.
Amachree acknowledged the enduring speculation and misery surrounding Abacha’s death, consequent upon the conflicting narratives. He claimed that while many accounts were published, few were based on verifiable facts. “These range from fictional stories of a poisoned apple from disaffected soldiers to more sensational claims involving foreign intelligence agencies.
The author disputed the claims of six people, whose narratives never resolved the riddle.
The first is David Orr of The Irish Times. Of his speculation, the author stated: “A journalist’s account cited an unnamed diplomat claiming Abacha was poisoned by a small group of disaffected military officers. While dramatic, this narrative was contradicted by a Nigerian newspaper report citing autopsy results that ruled out poisoning.”
On Susan Rice’s testimony, Amachree said: The former US National Security Advisor’s account, while condescending, echoed the widespread rumour that Abacha died in the company of prostitutes, possibly due to Viagra use. This version, while popular, lacks concrete evidence and is dismissed by those close to the late Head of State.”
He also rejected Major Hamzat Al-Mustapha’s account, saying: “As Abacha’s Chief Security Officer, his account is often considered a key source, though it contains notable inconsistencies. He claimed Abacha’s health collapsed after a handshake with a security guard of a visiting dignitary. This version, while exonerating the “poisoned apple” theory, differs significantly from other timelines and accounts.”
Also dismissing the late Gen. Jeremiah Useni’s suggestions, Amachree said: “A close friend of Abacha, Useni’s narrative provides a different timeline of events, contradicting Al-Mustapha’s account regarding the final hours. He supported the official story of death by natural causes, citing autopsy results from multiple countries.”
The opinion of a medical officer, Brig-General Oviemo Ovadje, was also rejected. “His account offers a different perspective, suggesting Abacha’s death was a result of long- term health issues exacerbated by poor medical management, including the use of steroids.”
The author dismissed Femi Fani-Kayode’s speculation. He said the former Aviation Minister’s social media posts present a conspiracy theory alleging a CIA-orchestrated plot involving a poisoned handshake, with the complicity of other former Nigerian leaders.
“While lacking evidence, this narrative highlights the deep-seated public distrust and willingness to believe external forces are pulling the strings.”
Amachree said the most sensational of these stories of imported Indian prostitutes, a poisoned apple, and CIA involvement have been widely circulated, muddying the historical record.
He said he therefore decided to clarify the authentic and accurate facts. “As a security professional who was in the thick of it, I feel compelled to set the record straight and provide the true narrative for posterity, the author added.
The most important account was that of Al-Mustapha, being the closest officer to him. He has consistently tried to defend his late boss’ image, attributing his death to a mysterious handshake from a foreign security operative.
He claimed that Abacha’s health declined after shaking hands with a member of PLO leader Yasser Arafat’s entourage on June 8.
According to his account, Abacha was stabilised by a doctor at 6pm and was receiving visitors until Gen. Useni left at 3.35pm the following day. Al- Mustapha’s explanation ends there, claiming he went home to rest and was only alerted to Abacha’s instability at 5 am.
Amachree insisted that Al-Mustapha’s account has a critical gap, stressing that “ he missed the one and a half window after Gen. Useni’s departure that provides the key to the mystery.”
In paragraph five of page 250 sub-titled: ‘The final hours,’ the retired Assistant DSS Director gave full details of Abacha’s last moments.
His account: “At approximately 2.40 am, shortly after Gen. Useni left, Abacha’s girlfriend, an Igbo lady (name withheld), arrived at the Aso Rock Guest House from the Nicon Nogs Hilton Hotel. With her was her younger sister, a pharmacist who was in Abuja for a conference. The Head of State had just bought his girlfriend a new SUV, and they decided to stop by to say hello to “ Oga.”
“Abacha was taken with the younger sister, and after a short while, the girlfriend returned to the hotel, leaving the pharmacist alone with the Head of State. At about 4.05 am, as they were getting intimate, the pharmacist realized Abacha had stopped moving. She called out to him, but he was unresponsive and stiff. She checked his pulse; there was none.
“In a state of panic, she quickly dressed and left the guest house, telling the soldier in guard duty that “Oga” had asked for a car to take her back to her hotel. The soldier, unaware of the gravity of the situation, promptly arranged transportation for her. She returned to the Hilton, and after telling her sister what had happened, was quickly driven to the Abuja Airport to catch the 7. am Okada Airline flight to Lagos.
“This is the window Major Al-Mustapha missed. When he was finally informed of Abacha’s instability at 5 am, he asked who had been with the General. He was told about the girlfriend’s younger sister, whom they had just dropped off at the Hilton. The State Security Service (SSS) was immediately informed and went to the Hilton to arrest the girlfriend, but the pharmacist they urgently needed was already on her way to Lagos.”
In paragraph five of page 251 sub-titled: ‘The interrogation and the truth,’ Amachree stated: “At approximately 8 am on June 9, 1998, as the Assistant Director of Operations and Intelligence at the Lagos State SSS Command, I received a call from the Director of Operations at SSS National Headquarters. He informed me of Abacha’s death and ordered me to send operatives to an address in Ogudu, Lagos, to arrest a young pharmacist.
“My team located and brought her to my office. I interrogated her myself. The first thing she said to me was: “I did not kill him, he died on top of me.” After her detailed account, I called the Director in Abuja, and she was immediately flown back.”
Amachree recalled that “later that day, the news broke, and the media, with their “fertile imagination,” began to spin tales of imported Indian girls and poisoned apples.”
He said: “Abacha, a military dictator who surrounded himself with a seemingly impenetrable security detail, thought he was invincible. Yet, in the end, death kept its appointment with him, rendering his concentric rings of security useless.
“His story is a poignant reminder that power is transient and that no amount of security can shield a leader from their ultimate fate.”
