Retired General indicts Malami, Buratai, others, says terror suspects were freed under Buhari’s govt

A retired Major-General of the Nigerian Army, Danjuma Hamisu Ali-Keffi, has alleged that terrorism financing suspects held in military custody were released under suspicious circumstances during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Ali-Keffi, who was appointed in October 2020 to head Operation Service Wide (OSW), a covert presidential task force, said the releases followed efforts to remove him from the army...TAP TO CONTINUE FULL READING.

OSW, which comprised personnel from the military, security and intelligence agencies, as well as legal officers from the office of the attorney-general of the federation, was mandated to arrest, investigate and prosecute financiers and collaborators of terrorist groups.

Speaking in an interview, Ali-Keffi said all terrorism financing suspects in army custody were freed in circumstances that suggested compromise.

“All the terrorism financing suspects in the custody of the Army were released under suspicious circumstances,” he said.

He alleged that Farouk Yahaya, former chief of army staff, acted under the influence of Tukur Buratai, a former army chief, to orchestrate his removal from service to pave the way for the releases.

“Thus, it could be safely deduced that General Yahaya, under the prompting of General Buratai, set me up in order to get me out of the Army to pave way for the release of the suspects to cover up their links to some of the terror suspects,” he said.

Ali-Keffi also alleged that Buratai influenced Yahaya’s appointment as army chief following the death of Ibrahim Attahiru.

“It is an open secret that General Buratai influenced the appointment of General Yahaya as the Army Chief following the death of General Attahiru,” he said.

The retired officer further accused Abubakar Malami, former attorney-general of the federation, of playing a role in the alleged release of the suspects.

He said the office of the attorney-general was responsible for guiding investigations and advising on prosecutions or releases where evidence was insufficient.

His words: “So, Mr Malami’s cooperation would be needed for any ‘illegal’ activity to occur in respect of the suspects’ release.

“Considering that Mr Malami was also linked to some of the suspects, it makes logical sense to assume that he cooperated with General Yahaya to free the suspects in the manner that was done in order to protect their reputation.”

Ali-Keffi said it was improbable that the suspects would have been released without Malami’s knowledge and consent.

He also raised concerns about the alleged diversion of funds meant for counterterrorism operations.

According to him, Nigeria has spent billions of dollars on counterinsurgency efforts since 2010 with little to show due to alleged misappropriation by senior military and government officials.

“It is generally believed that most of the money meant for the counterterrorism and counterinsurgency efforts are diverted into private pockets,” he said.

Ali-Keffi alleged that investigations by OSW revealed large-scale money laundering by terrorism financing suspects acting on behalf of senior officials.

“The NFIU as part of the OSW observed huge sums of money being laundered by some of the terrorism financing suspects on behalf of senior government and military officials,” he said.

He added that some suspects operated bureau de change businesses as fronts for terrorism financing, adding that misapplication of funds meant for counterterrorism was as dangerous as direct terrorism financing.

“As I have come to understand in the course of the OSW project, misapplication of funds meant for counterterrorism is as bad as financing terrorism,” he said.

The Retired General also referenced a forensic audit reportedly ordered by the late Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru, shortly before his death in 2021.

He suggested that the audit could have exposed alleged financial misconduct within the military.

Ali-Keffi said OSW had gathered extensive evidence against 48 terrorism financing suspects, including intelligence from the United Arab Emirates and Western agencies.

“The OSW had overwhelming evidence against each of the 48 terrorism financing suspects in the custody of the Army,” he said.

He described the release of all the suspects without convictions as “beyond belief”.

“Only a thorough investigation of the OSW will reveal the truth regarding the freeing of the suspects,” he added.