Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai
(retd.), has filed a N1 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, instituted on Thursday at the Kaduna
Judicial Division of the court, accuses Ali-Keffi of making and circulating
false, malicious and defamatory statements allegedly linking Buratai to
terrorism financing, Boko Haram suspects, and the illegal release and
concealment of terror suspects.
In the suit filed through his lawyers, A.I. Aliyu and
A.M. Hassan of Law Plus Consult, Buratai is seeking declarations that the
statements attributed to the defendant and published on various online news
platforms and social media outlets are defamatory and injurious to his
reputation.
According to court documents, Buratai alleged that
Ali-Keffi granted interviews in 2025 in which he 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.
Buratai further contended that the publications were
widely circulated on online platforms and social media, including Facebook, X
(formerly Twitter), WhatsApp and Instagram, giving the allegations national and
international reach.
In his statement of claim, the former army chief
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 actions inimical to Nigeria’s national
security, thereby causing grave damage to his reputation, honour and standing
both locally and internationally.
Buratai also accused the defendant of acting
recklessly and maliciously, noting that Ali-Keffi allegedly admitted in the
same publications that no investigation had established Buratai’s involvement
in terrorism financing.
The plaintiff 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 as general damages for libel
and injury to reputation, citing the seriousness of the terrorism-related
allegations, their wide circulation, and the defendant’s status as a retired
senior military officer.
In addition, Buratai is seeking a perpetual injunction
restraining the defendant from further publishing or repeating the alleged
defamatory statements, as well as an order compelling him to pay the full cost
of the suit, including solicitor’s fees.
The writ of summons directs Ali-Keffi to enter an
appearance within 21 days of service, failing which the court may proceed with
the matter in his absence.
As of the time of filing this report, no hearing date
has been fixed, and the defendant has yet to respond to the suit.
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