Court Fixes October 28, 29 for ₦1.5bn Defamation Suit Against Ali-Keffi, Arise News, Sahara Reporters
The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has scheduled October 28 and 29 for proceedings in a ₦1.5 billion defamation suit instituted by former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya (rtd), against retired Major General Danjuma Hamisu Ali-Keffi, Arise Broadcasting Limited and Sahara Reporters Media Group Inc.
The suit, marked CV/132/26, is before FCT High Court No. 2, Abuja.
Yahaya, who filed the suit on January 14, 2026, is seeking, among other reliefs, formal retractions, public apologies and monetary damages from the defendants over alleged defamatory publications, according to a statement issued on his behalf.
The statement did not provide details of the specific publications at the centre of the dispute.
It disclosed that the former Army Chief is seeking ₦1.5 billion and ₦600 million in damages, respectively, as outlined in the Writ of Summons.
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The court had, on March 17, 2026, granted an order for substituted service of the originating court processes on the defendants.
Under the order, the court bailiff was authorised to serve the documents through publication in a national newspaper circulating within the FCT and by pasting them at the defendants’ last known addresses.
Yahaya’s lead counsel, Mohammed Ndayako, SAN, confirmed the order, explaining that substituted service became necessary following what he described as repeated attempts to evade service.
According to the statement, Ndayako specifically alleged that retired Major General Ali-Keffi declined to acknowledge service of the court processes at his post-retirement residence in Kurudu, Abuja, an address said to be contained in his Nigerian Army service records.
The court’s decision to grant substituted service provides an alternative means of notifying the defendants of the pending proceedings.
The suit is expected to come up for proceedings on October 28 and 29, as the legal dispute over the alleged defamatory publications moves before the FCT High Court.
The statement was issued by Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman (rtd), on behalf of Yahaya.
The allegations in the suit remain subject to judicial determination.
