Court Throws Out Ex-General’s Suit Against Army

According to Ireporter Online, the National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by retired Major General Danjuma Hamisu Ali-Keffi challenging his compulsory retirement from the Nigerian Army, ruling that the case was statute-barred.

The court held on Friday that the matter was filed outside the constitutionally permitted time frame of three months, thereby stripping it of legal validity. The decision followed a preliminary objection raised by the Nigerian Army, with the court declining to proceed to full trial.

A source familiar with the proceedings said the court also ruled that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain Ali-Keffi’s claims of fundamental human rights violations, directing him to seek redress at either a Federal or State High Court.

“The National Industrial Court ruled today that the matter in respect of retired Major General Ali-Keffi’s compulsory retirement is statute-barred because he instituted the case after the expiration of three months provided by the Constitution,” the source was quoted as saying.

The source further noted that the court effectively struck out the suit in its entirety, adding that the retired general may still either appeal the ruling or file a fresh action before the appropriate court, depending on the advice of his legal team.

Ali-Keffi had approached the court seeking the nullification of his compulsory retirement, alongside a cumulative ₦200 billion in damages and compensation. He also listed several respondents, including the Nigerian Army, the Chief of Army Staff, the Nigerian Army Council, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Armed Forces Council, the Minister of Defence, and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

In his suit, the retired officer alleged unlawful detention lasting 64 days and claimed he was forced out of service after raising concerns about the handling of suspects linked to terrorism financing under a covert presidential operation.

Court documents indicated that he was arrested on October 18, 2021, and detained until December 21, 2021, after which he was issued a compulsory retirement letter citing alleged incompetence and disloyalty to constituted authority.

Ali-Keffi maintained that he was neither formally informed of the allegations against him nor subjected to any disciplinary proceedings, arguing that his retirement amounted to punitive dismissal disguised as administrative action.

He had asked the court to declare his retirement null and void, reinstate him as having retired voluntarily upon reaching the statutory age, and award him damages, including ₦100 billion for alleged unlawful detention and reputational harm, ₦100 billion in punitive damages, and ₦120 million in alleged unpaid entitlements.