Gen Yahaya denies terror-financing link, threatens legal action
By OUR REPORTER
Many who have reacted to the list have found it difficult to believe as one of them said, “Much as we detest terrorism and are always ready to fight it together like we have always done, the names they are telling us are difficult to believe. President Bola Tinubu should come clear by letting the list be made official if he thinks it is true not to make it a social media guesswork.”
The terror sponsors list being peddled in Nigeria is becoming like the case of Republic of Benin, where controversial President Patrice Talon has allegedly engaged in tagging either as corrupt or criminal perceived enemies especially those believed to have connection with opposition to his ambitious life presidency thus sentencing them to 20 years imprisonment each.
This is as yet another vital figure and retired General of the Nigerian Army being so tagged, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, former Chief of Army Staff, has dismissed as false and malicious allegations linking him to individuals purportedly involved in terrorism financing.
The allegation, credited to retired Major General Danjuma Ali-Keffi and published by Sahara Reporters, claimed the former army chief had ties to suspected terror financiers.
But Yahaya, in a statement issued on his behalf by retired Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, on Saturday in Abuja, described the claims as “spurious, baseless and entirely untrue.”
“At no point in his career, before, during, or after serving as Chief of Army Staff, did Lt.-Gen. Yahaya have any direct or indirect association with anyone involved in terrorism financing or activities that undermine national security,” he said.
Yahaya accused Ali-Keffi of pursuing a “personal vendetta” rooted in disciplinary actions taken against him while in service, adding that the publication was malicious and devoid of factual foundation.
He also faulted Sahara Reporters for publishing the allegations without verification, saying doing so was irresponsible and damaging to public trust.
“These allegations run contrary to Gen. Yahaya’s impeccable service record, professional integrity and lifelong commitment to the defence of Nigeria,” the statement added.
The former army chief demanded an immediate retraction from Ali-Keffi, Sahara Reporters and others circulating the report, warning that failure to do so would attract legal action to protect his name and reputation.
He reaffirmed his commitment to Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, saying the national effort required “responsibility, patriotism and truth, not propaganda driven by personal grudges,” according to a media report.
Many who have reacted to the list have found it difficult to believe as one of them said, “Much as we detest terrorism and are always ready to fight it together like we have always done, the names they are telling us are difficult to believe. President Bola Tinubu should come clear by letting the list be made official if he thinks it is true not to make it a social media guesswork. Otherwise, you will be creating impression that you want to eliminate the North and its strongmen.”
