- Safiu Kehinde
A former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya (Rtd), has dragged Maj. Gen. Danujma Ali-Keffi, Arise Broadcasting Limited, and Sahara Reporters Media Group to court in a N1.5 billion defamation suit.
The Court documents indicate that Yahaya instituted the action on Wednesday, at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, following the expiration of a demand notice served on the defendants.
The spokesperson for Yahaya, retired Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, a former Army spokesperson, made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
In the suit, the retired army chief was seeking, among other reliefs, formal retractions and public apologies over publications he described as false and malicious, as well as monetary damages of N1.5 billion and N600 million respectively.
“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.