Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, who served as Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late military ruler General Sani Abacha, has denied claims that Abacha died during an alleged affair, insisting that he has CCTV footage showing the former head of state’s final moments.
According to The Cable Al-Mustapha made the statement during an interview with journalists in Kaduna, while reacting to claims contained in a memoir by former DSS operator Dennis Amachree.
Amachree’s book, DSS @ 40: My Journey Behind the Shield, reportedly claimed that Abacha died in the early hours of June 8, 1998, after suffering a cardiac arrest during an intimate encounter with a Nigerian chemist at the Presidential Villa Guest House in Abuja.
However, Al-Mustapha rejected the account, describing it as false and misleading. He claimed that the author was influenced by unnamed individuals to present what he called an inaccurate version of events.
“What he said is not true,” Al-Mustapha said, adding that the CCTV footage in his possession would prove otherwise.
The former CSO also criticised the publication of allegations against a person who is no longer alive to defend himself, saying: “It’s bad to say such things about someone that is dead.”
Al-Mustapha suggested that Amachree was not acting independently and accused him of attempting to rewrite historical events. He, however, declined to provide further details about the footage, saying he would respond fully at the appropriate time.
The controversy has renewed public debate over the circumstances surrounding Abacha’s death, which has remained the subject of speculation for nearly three decades. While various theories have emerged, including claims of poisoning and foreign involvement, no official account has completely settled the matter.
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