Retired Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai, the former Chief of Army Staff, has initiated a high-stakes legal battle against a fellow retired military officer. He has filed a defamation lawsuit seeking a staggering N1 billion in damages from Major General Danjuma Hamisu Ali-Keffi.
Legal Action Over Grave Allegations
The suit was formally lodged at the Kaduna Judicial Division of the High Court on January 8, 2026. In the court documents, General Buratai, represented by his legal team from Law Plus Consult, accuses Ali-Keffi of making and spreading statements that are false, malicious, and defamatory.
The core of the dispute revolves around interviews granted by Ali-Keffi in 2025. Buratai contends that in these interviews, the defendant insinuated he had links to terrorism financiers and Boko Haram suspects. Furthermore, the allegations suggested Buratai was involved in conspiracies to illegally release and conceal terror suspects during his tenure as the nation's top army officer.
National Reputation at Stake
Buratai's statement of claim emphasizes the severe damage caused by the widespread circulation of these claims. The publications were featured on several online news platforms and shared extensively across social media channels like Facebook, X (Twitter), WhatsApp, and Instagram.
This dissemination, according to the plaintiff, gave the allegations both national and international reach, gravely injuring his reputation. Buratai asserts that the statements falsely paint him as corrupt, unpatriotic, and complicit in acts that threaten Nigeria's national security.
He strongly denies all accusations, stressing a crucial point: he has never been investigated, indicted, or convicted for terrorism, terrorism financing, or any related offence. The lawsuit also points out the alleged recklessness of the defendant, who reportedly admitted in the same publications that no investigation had established Buratai's involvement.
Seeking Redress and Restraint
Beyond the substantial financial claim for general damages, Buratai is seeking several court orders against Ali-Keffi. These include:
- An immediate retraction of the alleged defamatory statements.
- A prominent public apology to be published in Sahara Reporters, two national newspapers, and on all social media platforms where the statements appeared.
- A perpetual injunction to prevent Ali-Keffi from further publishing or repeating the claims.
- Payment of the full cost of the legal suit.
The court has directed the defendant to enter an appearance within 21 days of being served the writ of summons. Failure to do so could result in the court proceeding with the hearing in his absence. As of now, no hearing date has been set, and Ali-Keffi has not yet filed a formal response to the allegations in court.
