Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd), has instituted a N1 billion defamation lawsuit against the former General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Nigerian Army’s 1 Division, Maj. Gen. Danjuma Ali-Keffi (retd).
The suit, filed before the Kaduna State High Court on Thursday, centers on damaging claims allegedly made by the former GOC linking Buratai to terrorism financing.
Okay News reports that the legal action stems from interviews allegedly granted by Ali-Keffi in 2025, which were widely circulated on digital media platforms.
In these publications, Buratai was accused of maintaining relationships with individuals linked to insurgency, shielding Boko Haram suspects, and being complicit in the unlawful release of terror suspects during his tenure as army chief.
Through his legal team at Law Plus Consult, Buratai has dismissed the allegations as baseless, malicious, and a direct attack on his integrity. He maintains that he has never been indicted or convicted for any terrorism-related offense.
The former COAS is seeking a court order compelling Ali-Keffi to issue a public retraction and apology in national newspapers, a perpetual injunction against further defamatory statements, and N1 billion in general damages. The defendant has been given 21 days to respond to the writ of summons.
