Former army chief drags Ali-keffi to court over terrorism allegations
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), has filed a ₦1 billion defamation suit against another retired senior military officer, Maj. Gen. Ali-Keffi (retd.), at the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna State.
The suit, filed on Thursday at the Kaduna Judicial Division of the court, alleges that Ali-Keffi made and circulated false, malicious and defamatory statements linking Buratai to terrorism financing, Boko Haram suspects, and the alleged illegal release and concealment of terror suspects.
In the action, Buratai, through his counsel, A.I. Aliyu and A.M. Hassan of Law Plus Consult, is seeking declarations that the statements attributed to the defendant and published on various online news platforms and social media outlets are defamatory and damaging to his reputation.
According to court documents, Buratai accused Ali-Keffi of granting interviews in 2025 in which he allegedly insinuated that the former army chief had links to terror suspects and financiers, and was involved in conspiracies to cover up terrorism-related activities during his tenure as Chief of Army Staff.
The plaintiff further stated that the publications were widely circulated on social media platforms, including Facebook, X, WhatsApp and Instagram, giving the allegations national and international exposure.
In his statement of claim, Buratai described the allegations as entirely false, stressing that he has never been investigated, indicted or convicted for terrorism, terrorism financing or any related offence.
He argued that the statements portrayed him as corrupt, unpatriotic and complicit in acts inimical to Nigeria’s national security, thereby causing serious damage to his reputation, honour and standing both within and outside the country.
Buratai also alleged that the defendant acted recklessly and maliciously, despite reportedly admitting in the same publications that no investigation had established Buratai’s involvement in terrorism financing.
The former army chief is asking the court to compel Ali-Keffi to immediately retract the alleged defamatory statements and publish an unreserved public apology with equal prominence in Sahara Reporters, two national newspapers, and on all social media platforms where the statements were circulated.
He is claiming ₦1 billion in general damages for libel and injury to reputation, citing the gravity of the terrorism-related allegations, the wide circulation of the publications, and the defendant’s status as a retired senior military officer.
In addition, Buratai is seeking a perpetual injunction restraining Ali-Keffi from further publishing or repeating the alleged defamatory statements, as well as an order directing him to pay the full cost of the suit, including solicitor’s fees.
The writ of summons directs the defendant to enter an appearance within 21 days of service, failing which the court may proceed to hear the case in his absence.
As of the time of filing this report, no date has been fixed for the commencement of hearing, and the defendant has not responded to the suit.