Hamza Al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer to late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, has rejected claims by former Department of State Services (DSS) operative Dennis Amachree on the circumstances surrounding the late military ruler’s death, describing them as false.
Al-Mustapha spoke with journalists on Saturday after the Memorial Conference on General Hassan Usman Katsina at Arewa House in Kaduna.
His reaction followed the publication of a book by Amachree, a retired Assistant Director of the DSS who served during the Abacha administration, in which he gave his account of the late Head of State’s final movements before his death.
Dismissing the claims, Al-Mustapha alleged that the account was fabricated and urged Nigerians not to believe it.
“The boy was asked by others to write those lies. I have all the CCTV footage of what happened in my custody, so what he said is not true,” he said.
The retired army major claimed he possessed evidence capable of disproving the account contained in the publication but did not provide further details about the alleged footage or indicate whether it would be released publicly.
He also urged Nigerians not to accept allegations against the late military ruler, arguing that it was unfair to make claims about someone who could no longer defend himself.
“Just ignore his lies. It’s bad to say such things about someone who is dead,” Al-Mustapha added.
Abacha seized power through a military coup on November 17, 1993, and ruled Nigeria until his sudden death at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on June 8, 1998.
Although the Federal Government announced that he died after a sudden illness, the circumstances surrounding his death have remained the subject of controversy, with former military officers, intelligence operatives, diplomats and political figures offering conflicting accounts over the years.
Al-Mustapha, one of Abacha’s closest aides during his administration, has consistently disputed accounts he believes misrepresent the late Head of State and the events leading to his death.
