Former Chief of Army Staff, retired Lieutenant-General Faruk Yahaya (rtd), has publicly rejected allegations that link him to individuals alleged to be financing terrorism in Nigeria.
In an official statement issued on his behalf by retired Brig-General Sani Usman (rtd), Yahaya described the claims attributed to retired Major-General Danjuma Ali-Keffi (rtd) and reportedly published by an online platform as “malicious, baseless, and entirely false.”
According to the statement, at no point in his entire military career before, during, or after his tenure as COAS has Yahaya had any direct or indirect association with persons or entities involved in financing terrorism or activities threatening national security.
Yahaya accused Ali-Keffi of pursuing a personal vendetta, alleging the accusations stem from disciplinary actions taken against the latter while in service. The release argued that the publication lacked verifiable evidence and ran contrary to Yahaya’s record of service, ethics, modest lifestyle, and long-standing commitment to Nigeria’s defence.
He has demanded an immediate retraction of the allegations and threatened legal action if the defamatory content continues to circulate. Yahaya reiterated that Nigeria’s fight against terrorism demands responsibility, patriotism, and truth not unverified claims driven by “personal grudges and propaganda.”
