By Osaretin Osadebamwen
A retired Assistant Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Dennis Amachree, has reignited debate over the death of former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, insisting that his newly published account reflects the official findings of the DSS investigation.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, Amachree said his book was written to dispel decades of conspiracy theories surrounding Abacha’s sudden death in June 1998.
He dismissed long-standing claims that the former military ruler died after consuming poisoned apples allegedly brought by Indian women, describing such stories as fabricated and unsupported by evidence.
According to him, the version contained in his book is based on the testimony of a woman whom he personally interrogated shortly after Abacha’s death.
Amachree maintained that eyewitness testimony remains the most reliable form of evidence and said he had no reason to doubt the woman’s account during the interrogation.
The retired intelligence officer stressed that his conclusions were not merely personal recollections but formed part of the DSS investigation into the incident.
He explained that after completing the interrogation, his report was forwarded to the agency’s headquarters in Abuja and incorporated into the broader investigation.
According to him, the woman’s account matched other available evidence, leading to her eventual release after a period of detention.
Amachree argued that had her testimony been inconsistent or false, she would likely have faced prosecution instead of being released.
When pressed by Arise TV anchor on whether documentary evidence of the investigation still exists, Amachree declined to produce any report but insisted that official records remain with the DSS.
He rejected suggestions that details surrounding the death of a president should remain permanently classified, arguing that there is “nothing classified” about the illness or death of a nation’s leader.
The retired DSS officer said his decision to publish the information was driven by the need to counter what he described as numerous misleading narratives that have circulated for nearly three decades.
He specifically referenced alternative accounts attributed to former Chief Security Officer Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, General Abdulsalami Abubakar’s former National Security Adviser General Abdullahi Mohammed, and former United States National Security Adviser Susan Rice, saying each left significant gaps.
Amacjree challenged Al-Mustapha to publicly release any video footage he claims to possess relating to Abacha’s final moments.
He also questioned why official security recordings, if they exist, would still be in the personal possession of a former government official.
The former intelligence officer further claimed that two women were arrested following Abacha’s death, one in Lagos and another in Abuja, urging those disputing his account to explain the circumstances surrounding those arrests.
He, however, declined to reveal further operational details, saying his book covers much broader intelligence issues beyond the Abacha case.
Responding to criticism from veteran journalist Tony Eluemunor, who reportedly cited intelligence reports suggesting Abacha was already gravely ill or may have been poisoned through contact with a foreign operative, Amachree dismissed the claims as inaccurate.
He accused Eluemunor of presenting fictional intelligence narratives and making factual errors regarding DSS operational structures and personnel.
According to Amachree some of the positions and reporting lines referenced by the journalist did not exist as described, insisting the account lacked credibility.
Amachree said that the DSS leadership had no objection to the publication of his memoir and considered an approval of the book.
The approval by the DSS could be interpreted as credibility to the revelations contained in it, although the DSS has not publicly issued an official statement endorsing every claim in the publication.
Beyond the Abacha controversy, Amachree also raised concerns about Nigeria’s security vetting process for senior political appointments.
Amachree concluded by urging Nigerian leaders to rely more heavily on intelligence assessments from agencies such as the DSS and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), arguing that objective security advice offers the best roadmap for strengthening governance and national security
