By Kingsley Omonobi
Abuja — Retired Lieutenant General (Dr) Faruk Yahaya, former Chief of Army Staff and Zarumman Sokoto, has filed a N1.5 billion defamation suit against Major General Danjuma Hamisu Ali-Keffi (rtd) and other media outlets at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja.
The suit, instituted on Wednesday, 14 January 2026, follows the expiration of formal demand notices served on the defendants, seeking retractions, public apologies, and cessation of allegedly defamatory publications.
According to Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman (rtd), former Director of Army Public Relations, the lawsuit also seeks monetary damages of N1.5 billion and N600 million, over statements linking the former Army Chief to terrorism financing, illegal mining, and banditry.
“The action arises from publications and statements which the claimant contends were false, malicious, and injurious to his reputation, character, and integrity,” Usman said.
Court records indicate that the defendants have been formally served and are required to enter appearances in accordance with court rules.
The legal action follows allegations reportedly made by Ali-Keffi (rtd), linking Gen Yahaya to terrorism financiers—a claim the former Army Chief has consistently described as “spurious, baseless, and entirely untrue.”
Acting through his legal team led by Mohammed Ndayako SAN, Gen Yahaya issued a demand notice on 17 December 2025, giving the defendants 72 hours to retract the claims, issue public apologies, and cease further dissemination. Their failure to comply prompted the filing of the lawsuit.
Gen Yahaya accused Ali-Keffi of pursuing a “personal vendetta” related to past disciplinary actions and emphasized that the allegations were malicious and devoid of factual basis.
“At no point in my career, before, during, or after serving as Chief of Army Staff, did I have any association with anyone involved in terrorism financing or activities that undermine national security,” Gen Yahaya stated.
He reaffirmed his commitment to the rule of law, accountability, and professionalism, stressing that falsehoods motivated by malice or personal grievances would not go unchallenged.
The post Terrorism Financing: Former COAS Lt Gen Faruk files N1.5bn defamation suit against Ali-Keffi, others appeared first on Vanguard News.
