According to a report by Daily Post on Saturday, June 13, 2026, former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, has disclosed detailed accounts of the events surrounding the death of Nigeria’s former military ruler, General Sani Abacha, in 1998.
Abdulsalami, who succeeded Abacha as Head of State following his sudden demise, made the revelations in his autobiography titled Call of Duty, where he recounted how he was unexpectedly drawn into the circumstances that preceded the transition of power in the country.
In the memoir, Abdulsalami explained that he was misled into believing that Abacha had requested to see him on the morning of June 8, 1998.
He noted that the communication came very early in the day, prompting him to prepare for what he assumed was an official engagement with the then Head of State.
According to him, the message created a sense of urgency, although the purpose of the meeting was not disclosed to him at the time.
He further narrated that upon arriving at the Presidential Villa, he was unexpectedly locked inside a room for over an hour without any explanation.
He stated that he remained confined and uncertain about the situation until the arrival of the then Inspector-General of Police, the late Ibrahim Coomassie, who eventually opened the door and provided clarity on the unfolding events.
Abdulsalami described the experience as unusual and unexpected, given his position and prior relationship with the administration at the time.
According to his account, the early morning communication had initially informed him that Abacha wished to see him, prompting him to reflect on the possibility of being assigned official duties outside the country.
He recounted that while preparing for the day, he was informed again that the Head of State required his presence at the Villa.
The repeated messages, he noted, increased the sense of urgency and confusion surrounding the request, although no further details were provided to him before his arrival.
Abdulsalami also explained that due to the urgency of the summons, he left his residence without wearing his military uniform.
He stated that he instead wore a tracksuit and slippers before proceeding to the Presidential Villa, a decision he said was influenced by the expectation of a brief and informal meeting.
His account highlights the unexpected nature of the events that unfolded upon his arrival at the seat of government.
He said, “As I entered the bathroom, there was another call. I was told again that the Head of State wanted to see me. Out of frustration, I asked if I was travelling to Togo and the caller replied that it was on another issue. Because of the urgency, I didn’t wear my uniform. I wore a tracksuit and slippers and proceeded to the Presidential Villa.”
