By Peace Erewunmi

A woman identified as Grace Ifeacho, who claimed to have been in a relationship with Nigeria’s former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, has denied long-standing allegations linking her to his death, insisting that she had no role in the incident.

Speaking in an interview, Ifeacho claimed that Abacha died while they were together, stating, “I did not kill him; he died on top of me.” She said the former military ruler suddenly slumped during their encounter and could not be revived despite efforts to assist him.

She also dismissed persistent rumours that she or anyone else deliberately poisoned or harmed Abacha, maintaining that his death was unexpected and beyond her control. According to her, many of the stories that circulated after the incident were fabricated and distorted the events surrounding his final moments.

General Sani Abacha died on June 8, 1998, while serving as Nigeria’s military Head of State. His sudden death has remained the subject of widespread speculation over the years, with several conflicting accounts emerging about the circumstances surrounding it.

The latest claims by Ifeacho represent her personal account of the incident and have not been independently verified. No official investigation has established that any individual was responsible for Abacha’s death.