Alleged terrorism financing: Buratai files N1bn suit against Alli-Keffi

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.) on Thursday filed a ₦1 billion defamation suit against retired Maj. Gen. Ali-Keffi (retd.) for allegedly making and circulating false, malicious, and defamatory statements against him.

In the suit filed before the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna State Buratai accused Ali-Keffi of linking his to terrorism financing, Boko Haram suspects, and the illegal release and concealment of terror suspects in the statement.

The former COAS through his counsel, A.I. Aliyu and A.M. Hassan of Law Plus Consult, asked the court to declare that the statements credited to the Ali-Keffi and published across various online news platforms and social media outlets are defamatory and injurious to his reputation.

Buratai, according to court documents, also alleged that Ali-Keffi granted interviews in 2025 in which he insinuated that Buratai had links to terror suspects and financiers and that he was involved in conspiracies to cover up terrorism-related activities during his tenure as Chief of Army Staff.

The former COAS claim that the publications were widely circulated online and on social media platforms including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), WhatsApp and Instagram, thereby giving the allegations both national and international reach.

Buratai, in his statement of claim, described the allegations against him by Ali-Keffi as entirely false, stressing that he has never been investigated, indicted or convicted for terrorism, terrorism financing or any related offence.

The former COAS ALSO argued that the statements portrayed him as corrupt, unpatriotic and complicit in acts inimical to Nigeria’s national security, causing grave damage to his reputation, honour and standing both locally and internationally.

He accused the defendant of acting recklessly and maliciously, despite admitting in the same publications that no investigation had established Buratai’s involvement in terrorism financing.

Buratai is asking the court to order 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.

The former COAS demanded ₦1 billion as general damages for libel and injury to reputation, citing the gravity of the terrorism-related allegations, the wide circulation of the publications, and the defendant’s status as a retired senior military officer.

He also asks the court for 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 to hear the matter in his absence.

No date has been fixed for the commencement of hearing of the suit