Former Chief of Army Staff, retired Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), has approached the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna with a ₦1 billion defamation suit against another retired senior military officer, Maj. Gen. Ali-Keffi (retd.), over alleged terrorism-related accusations.
The suit, filed on Thursday at the Kaduna Judicial Division of the court, centres on claims that Ali-Keffi made and circulated what Buratai describes as false, malicious and defamatory statements linking him to terrorism financing, Boko Haram suspects, and the alleged illegal release and concealment of terror suspects.
In the originating processes, Buratai, represented by A.I. Aliyu and A.M. Hassan of Law Plus Consult, is asking the court to declare that the statements attributed to the defendant and published on several online news platforms and social media channels are defamatory and have caused serious harm to his reputation.
According to the statement of claim, the former army chief alleged that Ali-Keffi granted interviews in 2025 in which he insinuated that Buratai had connections with terror suspects and financiers, and was involved in conspiracies to shield individuals linked to terrorism during his tenure as Chief of Army Staff.
Buratai further contended that the publications gained wide traction across digital platforms, including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), WhatsApp and Instagram, giving the allegations extensive national and international exposure.
He maintained that the claims are entirely false, stressing that he has never been investigated, indicted or convicted for terrorism, terrorism financing or any related offence.
The plaintiff argued that the allegations portrayed him as corrupt, unpatriotic and complicit in activities that threaten Nigeria’s national security, thereby causing severe damage to his honour, integrity and public standing both within and outside the country.
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.
Among the reliefs sought, the former army chief is asking the court to compel Ali-Keffi to immediately retract the alleged defamatory statements and issue 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 also claiming ₦1 billion in 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 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 requires the defendant 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.
