Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
In a high-stakes legal battle unfolding in Kaduna State, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai (retd.), former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of Nigeria, has filed a ₦1 billion defamation lawsuit against Major General Danjuma Hamisu Ali-Keffi (retd.), a fellow retired senior military officer and former General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Nigerian Army’s 1 Division. The suit was filed on January 8, 2026, at the Kaduna Judicial Division of the High Court and stems from highly controversial statements linking Buratai to terrorism-related activities.
The legal action centres on a series of alleged comments made by Ali-Keffi in interviews during 2025, which were published on Sahara Reporters and amplified across various online news outlets and social media platforms. In those statements, Ali-Keffi reportedly suggested that Buratai maintained relationships with individuals tied to terrorism financing, was connected with Boko Haram suspects, and had engaged in the unlawful release and concealment of terror suspects during his time as the army’s chief. Buratai’s legal team says these claims are unfounded and have caused significant harm to his personal and professional reputation.
Represented by lawyers A.I. Aliyu and A.M. Hassan of Law Plus Consult, the former army chief has asked the court to declare that the disputed publications were false, malicious, and damaging to his honour. In his statement of claim, Buratai emphasised that he has never been investigated, indicted, or convicted for terrorism, terrorism financing, or any related offence — contradicting the narrative implied by Ali-Keffi’s remarks. According to the suit, the allegations portrayed him as “a threat to national security, an unpatriotic citizen and a corrupt public officer,” severely undermining his standing both within Nigeria and on the international stage.
The suit further contends that even in the disputed publications Ali-Keffi allegedly acknowledged that no official investigation had established Buratai’s culpability in terrorism financing, yet proceeded to make assertions that the former COAS says were reckless and malicious. Buratai maintains that the widespread circulation of these claims across platforms including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), WhatsApp and Instagram magnified the reputational injury, subjecting him to ridicule and suspicion among Nigerians and international observers alike.
As part of the remedies sought, Buratai is asking the court to order an immediate retraction of the alleged defamatory statements and compel Ali-Keffi to issue an unreserved public apology. He has requested that the apology be published with equal prominence on Sahara Reporters, in at least two national newspapers, and across all the social media platforms where the defamatory content appeared.
In addition to the retraction and apology, Buratai is claiming ₦1 billion in general damages for libel and injury to reputation, highlighting the seriousness of terrorism-related accusations and the breadth of their dissemination. He is also seeking a perpetual injunction restraining Ali-Keffi from making or repeating similar statements in the future, and an order compelling the defendant to bear the full cost of the litigation, including legal fees.
The writ of summons directs Ali-Keffi to enter an appearance within 21 days of being served; failure to do so could lead the court to proceed with the case in his absence. As of the latest filings, a hearing date has not been scheduled, and the defendant has not publicly responded to the suit.
This lawsuit highlights broader issues around defamation, reputational harm, and the responsibilities of public figures and media platforms in Nigeria’s digital age. Accusations involving terrorism and national security carry profound implications, and the legal dispute between two high-ranking retired military officers underscores how such claims can reverberate across legal, social and political spheres.
As the matter progresses through the Kaduna High Court, its outcome may set important precedents for how defamation — particularly allegations of terrorism — is adjudicated in Nigeria’s courts, especially when it involves prominent former public officials and widely circulated online publications.
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