Ex-Army Chief Faruk Yahaya Denies Allegations of Terror Financing Links

Former Chief of Army Staff, retired Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, has strongly rejected claims linking him to individuals allegedly involved in terrorism financing. The allegations, made by retired Maj.-Gen. Danjuma Ali-Keffi and published by Sahara Reporters, suggested that Yahaya had ties to suspected terror financiers.

In a statement issued on his behalf by retired Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman on Saturday in Abuja, Yahaya described the claims as “spurious, baseless, and entirely untrue.” He insisted that at no point in his career—before, during, or after serving as Chief of Army Staff—did he have any association, direct or indirect, with anyone engaged in terrorism financing or activities undermining national security.

Yahaya further accused Ali-Keffi of pursuing a “personal vendetta,” allegedly stemming from past disciplinary actions during his military service. He also faulted Sahara Reporters for publishing the claims without proper verification, calling it “irresponsible and damaging to public trust.”

The former army chief demanded an immediate retraction from Ali-Keffi, Sahara Reporters, and other parties circulating the report, warning that legal action would follow if the retraction was not issued. Yahaya reaffirmed his commitment to Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, stressing that the national effort requires “responsibility, patriotism, and truth—not propaganda driven by personal grudges.”