- Major General Danjuma Ali-Keffi (Rtd) sues the Nigerian Army and six others for N200 billion over alleged unlawful 64-day detention and torture.
- The Nigerian Army raises preliminary objections, claiming the court lacks jurisdiction and the suit is statute-barred.
- The National Industrial Court adjourns the case to April 30, 2026, for the hearing of the preliminary objections.
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in Abuja has set April 30, 2026, to hear the preliminary objections raised by the Nigerian Army in a multi-billion-naira lawsuit filed by retired Major General Danjuma Hamisu Ali-Keffi.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the retired senior officer is seeking N200 billion in damages, alleging that he was subjected to unlawful arrest, prolonged detention without trial, and physical torture by the military high command.
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The lawsuit, registered as Suit No: NICN/48/399/2025, names several high-profile respondents, including the Chief of Army Staff, the Nigerian Army Council, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Minister of Defence, and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Major General Ali-Keffi’s legal battle stems from his tenure as the head of a covert Presidential Task Force known as Operation Service Wide (OSW).
Appointed in October 2020 by the late President Muhammadu Buhari, Ali-Keffi was tasked with the sensitive mandate of investigating and prosecuting financiers and sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria.
However, the retired General alleges that his professional integrity and commitment to the task led to his victimization.
He claims that his troubles began when he raised serious concerns regarding the suspicious release of terrorism financing suspects who were then under military custody.
According to court documents, Ali-Keffi was arrested on October 18, 2021, and remained in detention for 64 days until December 21, 2021.
He alleges that during this entire period, he was never formally charged with any offense, informed of any specific allegations, or brought before a court-martial.
The claimant further contends that the conditions of his detention were so severe that he suffered a physical collapse necessitating three days of hospitalization.
He argues that these actions represent a flagrant violation of his fundamental rights to personal liberty and fair hearing as guaranteed by Sections 34, 35, and 36 of the 1999 Constitution.
In response to the suit, the Nigerian Army has filed a statement of defense accompanied by a preliminary objection. The military authorities argue that the National Industrial Court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
They further contend that the suit is statute-barred, asserting that Ali-Keffi failed to appeal his compulsory retirement to the Army Council within the 90-day window stipulated by the Armed Forces Act.
The Army maintains that the procedural lapse renders his current legal challenge invalid before the industrial court.
The retired General is, however, steadfast in his pursuit of justice.
Beyond the compensatory and punitive damages totaling N200 billion, he is seeking N120 million in special damages for allowances he would have earned had he remained in service until the mandatory retirement age of 60 in January 2026.
He is also asking the court to nullify his “dishonourable” compulsory retirement and order the military to treat his exit as a voluntary retirement with full benefits.
Ali-Keffi revealed that the ordeal has taken a severe emotional toll on his family, citing persistent death threats that have forced him to make numerous unplanned security trips to the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.
As the legal community and military observers look toward the April 30 hearing, the case highlights critical questions regarding the balance of military discipline and constitutional rights.
