Former Chief of Army Staff, retired Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, has taken the legal battle route, slamming a defamation suit against retired Maj.-Gen. Danjuma Ali-Keffi, Arise Broadcasting Limited and Sahara Reporters Media Group.
Court papers reveal that the suit was lodged on Wednesday at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja, shortly after the expiration of a formal demand notice issued to the defendants.
The development was confirmed on Friday in Abuja by Yahaya’s spokesperson, retired Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, himself a former military spokesman.
In the action before the court, the ex-army chief is pressing for, among other remedies, outright retractions and public apologies over reports he described as false, damaging and driven by malice. He is also demanding financial compensation totalling N1.5 billion and an additional N600 million.
“The claimant contended that the publications and broadcasts unjustly linked him to allegations of terrorism financing, illegal mining and banditry, which he said injured his reputation, character and integrity.
“The matter had been duly filed before the FCT High Court, Abuja, and the defendants had been served to enter appearance in line with the rules of court,” Usman disclosed.
With the gloves now off and the matter before the bench, the courtroom is set to become the battleground where reputations and responsibilities will be weighed on the scales of justice.
