Retired Major General Danjuma Hamisu Ali-Keffi has filed a multi-billion-naira lawsuit at the National Industrial Court in Abuja against the Nigerian Army and top defence authorities. He alleges he was unlawfully arrested, detained, tortured, denied fair hearing, and forced into compulsory retirement in violation of the Constitution and military laws.
Ali-Keffi says his ordeal followed his role as head of a covert Presidential Task Force, during which he raised concerns about the release of terrorism-financing suspects in military custody. The suit seeks redress and accountability from the military leadership.
Major General Ali-Keffi speaks out, condemning the release of terrorism sponsors from Army custody and recounting his own 64-day detention, raising serious questions about accountability and justice.
Retired Major General Danjuma Ali-Keffi was arrested on October 18, 2021, and detained until December 21, 2021, without being informed of any charges or subjected to a trial.
He claims his detention violated his constitutional rights to personal liberty, fair hearing, and protection from inhuman treatment, citing a collapse that required hospitalization. Ali-Keffi’s legal action draws on his over 30-year military career, which began in 1986 at the Nigerian Defence Academy.
He trained at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, graduating in 1991 as a Second Lieutenant, and steadily rose through the ranks to become a Major General in 2018. He asserts he served Nigeria with distinction, receiving multiple awards and honours, as documented in his court filings.
Retired Major General Danjuma Ali-Keffi, formerly Commander of the presidential counter-terrorism unit OSW, claims he was officially appointed by President Buhari to lead the unit until June 2022.
Despite this, he was removed as GOC 1 Division on August 8, 2021, reassigned to the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, and detained for 64 days. Upon release on December 21, 2021, he was immediately served a letter enforcing his compulsory retirement from the Army.
Retired General Ali-Keffi challenges his compulsory retirement, calling it a dishonourable dismissal without due process. He was never charged, investigated, or tried for incompetence or disloyalty, and no guilt was ever established.
He argues the retirement violated over 30 years of service, Section 36 of the Constitution, the Armed Forces Act, and military disciplinary rules requiring a fair hearing or court-martial.
On December 21, 2021, Brigadier General J.H. Abdulsalam, as Military Secretary, issued a letter citing the 2017 Harmonised Terms for Officers to enforce Ali-Keffi’s compulsory retirement for alleged incompetence or disloyalty. Ali-Keffi contends this was a dishonourable dismissal carried out without due process.
Retired General Ali-Keffi argues that his compulsory retirement was unfair and dishonorable, as he was never charged, investigated, or tried for any offence. He claims the action violated constitutional and military laws requiring due process and a fair hearing, despite over 30 years of meritorious service.
Retired General Ali-Keffi claims that after his detention and forced retirement, he and his family received death threats, forcing multiple security-related trips abroad, causing financial loss and emotional trauma. He is suing for ₦100 billion in compensatory damages and another ₦100 billion in punitive damages for unlawful arrest, torture, violation of due process, and oppressive actions by the defendants.
He is also demanding ₦120 million as special damages, which he says represents the allowances he would have earned between January 2022 and January 2026 — the period up to his expected retirement at age 60 — calculated at ₦2.5 million per month.
The claimant is asking the court to cancel and nullify his compulsory retirement letter, declare it unconstitutional, and recognise him as having voluntarily retired at age 60. He also seeks full payment of all pensions, gratuities, benefits, and entitlements, with 10% yearly interest until fully paid.
He alleges that his arrest and 64-day detention (from October 18 to December 21, 2021) without formal charges, disciplinary proceedings, court-martial, or trial violated his fundamental rights to personal liberty, dignity, and fair hearing under the Nigerian Constitution.
He further argues that his compulsory retirement was imposed without due process and proper military disciplinary procedures.
The claimant is demanding:
₦100 billion as general damages for wrongful compulsory retirement, reputational harm, and hardship
₦100 billion as punitive and exemplary damages for alleged oppressive and unconstitutional actions.
₦120 million as special damages representing unpaid allowances from January 2022 to January 2026
10% interest on all outstanding entitlements and judgment sums until full payment
₦20 million as the cost of the legal action.
Overall, he seeks compensation, recognition of his service rights, and a declaration that his arrest, detention, and retirement were unlawful and unconstitutional.