June 12: MKO Abiola Family Seeks Clarification on Alleged N45bn Debt

The family of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola has called on the Federal Government to provide clarity regarding the alleged N45 billion debt reportedly owed to the business mogul.

This request comes in response to a recent appeal made by former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, who urged President Bola Tinubu to settle the debt as an act of justice and national reconciliation.

Lamido had reignited public interest in the issue during the May 2025 launch of his memoir, Being True to Myself, in Abuja. 

He claimed that Abiola’s company, International Telephone & Telegraph, executed large-scale telecommunications contracts for the military regime in the 1970s, but was never fully compensated.

According to Lamido, former Head of State General Murtala Mohammed acknowledged the debt before his assassination in 1976, and Abiola himself reportedly confirmed the amount during a private conversation with Lamido before his arrest in 1994.

Lamido described the unpaid sum as a “second injustice” against Abiola—first being the annulment of his widely regarded June 12, 1993 presidential election victory, and second, the withholding of payment for completed government contracts. He said clearing the debt would bring symbolic closure and reflect President Tinubu’s commitment to justice for Nigeria’s democratic heroes.

“Abiola sacrificed so much for Nigeria; resolving this matter honorably would bring dignity and finality to that chapter,” Lamido said. 

He urged the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris—who was in attendance—to deliver the message to the President.

The comment has revived conversations about Nigeria’s democratic evolution and Abiola’s role in the struggle, which ended tragically with his death in detention in 1998.

The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, also weighed in, calling on the Tinubu administration to take action. 

He said, “That money should be paid. It’s not just compensation—it’s about recognizing a man who gave his life for democracy. Appointing one of his children to public office is not enough.”

Speaking on behalf of the Abiola family, Jamiu Abiola told Saturday PUNCH that they had yet to receive specific information about the alleged debt. 

“The former governor didn’t specify what the money was for. Until more concrete details are made available, the matter can’t be pursued. As of now, the claim remains unsubstantiated,” he said.

A senior official from the Presidency, speaking anonymously, noted that the family could submit a formal claim if they had sufficient documentation, but questioned Lamido’s involvement in the matter.

He said, “MKO Abiola’s children are alive and capable of making their case. Sule Lamido has no authority to speak on their behalf. If the government truly owes anything, the family should make an official claim.”

He further questioned why previous presidents, including Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari, did not address the issue during their tenures.

Meanwhile, Hafsat Abiola, one of Abiola’s daughters, on Friday praised the Federal Government for posthumously conferring the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) on her mother, the late Kudirat Abiola.

She said, “Words cannot fully capture our appreciation for President Tinubu’s decision to honour my mother. Her commitment to defending her husband’s mandate and fighting for democracy was driven by love and duty. This recognition would have brought her immense joy.”