Sh*ck Claim: Top Power Brokers Protecting Terrorists — Ex-General Reveals

A former senior Army officer, retired Major General Umar Ali-Keffi, has reignited debate over a covert counter-terrorism operation authorized by ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, alleging the probe was deliberately shut down to protect influential figures suspected of terror financing.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Ali-Keffi, who once led the Nigerian Army’s 1 Division as General Officer Commanding, was appointed in 2021 to head Operation Service Wide (OSW) — an inter-agency mission created to identify Boko Haram sponsors and dismantle their funding networks.

He said the investigation quickly expanded, uncovering a major web of financiers tied to politically connected individuals, top military officers, and leading financial institutions. Documents cited by Sahara Reporters indicate that OSW, in collaboration with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), traced terror-linked funds and arrested high-profile suspects in March 2021.

Findings were reportedly submitted to Buhari in September 2021. Ali-Keffi said the then Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya (retd.), was also briefed — a revelation he believes later placed him in danger.

Barely one month later, on October 18, 2021, he was summoned by military police, interrogated, and detained for 64 days without charge.

“Till today, I don’t know my offence,” he said, insisting the goal was to shut down OSW and silence him.

He said multiple appeals to the current administration went unanswered, prompting a lawsuit at the National Industrial Court — a case he claims has faced delays and suspicious obstruction of service.

High-Profile Names Allegedly Linked Through Suspects

Ali-Keffi stressed that he is not accusing personalities of direct involvement in terrorism, but said OSW investigations linked suspects to:

• Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.) — 2 suspects

• Former Attorney-General, Abubakar Malami (SAN) — 2 suspects

• Former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele — 1 suspect

• Former COAS, Gen. Faruk Yahaya (retd.) — 1 suspect

According to him, the then-NFIU Director, Modibbo Hamman-Tukur Ribadu, disclosed those links as part of routine intelligence findings — mostly business relationships through Bureau De Change operators, believed to be a front for illicit financing.

Ali-Keffi said he resisted pressure from Buratai’s associates to release suspects and informed Buhari, who reacted strongly.

“You report to me and to me alone,” Buhari allegedly told him.

$600 Million Offshore Account & Blocked $50 Million Offer

One key suspect, Aboubacar Hima, was found with over $600 million in a foreign account — frozen after alerts from OSW and NFIU reached U.S. authorities.

He said Hima’s associates later offered $50 million for Nigeria to clear the funds, but he rejected the bribe attempt. He later learned that the government eventually wrote the U.S. requesting the funds be released.

Pressure to Water Down Charges

OSW had prepared terror-financing charges against 48 suspects in custody, he said, but top officials wanted those charges downgraded to money laundering, which would move the case to the EFCC, then under Malami’s influence.

He claims a prosecution lawyer who agreed with OSW’s stance was quietly removed.

“They wanted to kill the investigation,” he alleged.

Suspects Quietly Released After His Removal

After Ali-Keffi’s detention and forced retirement:

• OSW operations stalled

• All detained suspects were freed

• None were prosecuted

He said insiders told him the suspects were warned to stay silent about their detention.

Over 400 Targets, Including Abubakar Shekau

Ali-Keffi revealed OSW planned arrests or neutralization of 400 high-value individuals, including late Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau.

He hinted OSW helped engineer Shekau’s downfall.

He insists agencies including NFIU, EFCC and the Attorney-General’s office should answer what became of funds and evidence recovered.

Ali-Keffi maintains his ordeal — arrest, detention, and retirement — stemmed entirely from his unwillingness to compromise a terrorism-financing investigation that implicated the powerful.