Eminent economist, Prof. Sam Aluko, has died at 83.

Aluko died in a hospital in London, United Kingdom of an undisclosed ailment.

The eminent economist served in the regime of the late head of state, Gen. Sani Abacha, as the chairman of the National Economic Intelligence Committee.

He was heavily criticised for accepting to serve in a brutal administration but in a newspaper interview, Aluko said he had no regret accepting the offer.

He said he served Nigeria and not Abcha and was glad for all the contributions the appointments afforded him to make to the nation’s economy.

In his lifetime, Aluko strongly criticised budgets and financial plans of successive governments.