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Retired Army General Exposes Alleged High-Level Plot to Derail Boko Haram Financing Probe

A retired Major General who led a presidential anti-terrorism task force has made explosive allegations, claiming his high-stakes investigation into the funding of Boko Haram was systematically sabotaged to protect powerful figures in the former government, including an ex-Attorney General and former army chiefs.

A Presidential Probe and Abrupt Detention

Retired Major General A.M. Ali-Keffi has publicly detailed a concerted effort by powerful interests to shut down a sensitive investigation that linked terrorism suspects to Nigeria's political and military elite.

Appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021 to lead "Operation Service Wide" (OSW), Ali-Keffi's mandate was to identify and dismantle the financial networks of Boko Haram. The task force, collaborating with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), made significant arrests in March 2021 based on detailed financial intelligence.

However, the investigation took a dramatic turn for Ali-Keffi shortly after a September 2021 briefing to President Buhari. In October 2021, he was summoned, interrogated, and detained by the Military Police for 64 days without charge. He was subsequently compulsorily retired from the Army.

"Till today, I don’t know my offence," Ali-Keffi stated, asserting his arrest was a "coordinated attempt to halt the terrorism-financing probe".

Powerful Names Linked to Suspects

The retired General clarified he is not directly accusing the named individuals of terrorism financing. However, he insists he was informed by the then-head of the NFIU that suspects in custody had business connections to several high-profile figures.

According to Ali-Keffi's account:

*   Two suspects were linked to former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd).
*   Two other suspects were linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN).
*   One suspect was linked to former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
*   Former Chief of Army Staff, General Faruk Yahaya (rtd), was also linked to one suspect.

He revealed that pressure on the investigation included a request from Gen. Buratai to the NFIU boss to "prevail on me to release two suspects," a request he refused.

The $600 Million Account and Attempted Bribe

Among the most startling revelations is the case of an international suspect, Aboubacar Hima. OSW and the NFIU traced an offshore account containing about $600 million belonging to Hima and alerted the United States, which froze the assets.

Ali-Keffi alleges that after the account was frozen, an intermediary offered a $50 million bribe to Nigerian authorities to tell the U.S. they had "no issues" with the funds. He says he rejected the offer. Following his removal from OSW, he was informed that the Nigerian government wrote to the U.S. requesting the account be unfrozen.

They Wanted to Kill the Investigation

The retired General described a pattern of obstruction. He stated that despite having evidence to prosecute 48 suspects for terrorism financing, he faced pressure to downgrade charges to money laundering—a move he believed was designed to transfer the case to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), then under the influence of the Attorney-General's office.

A prosecution lawyer from the AGF's office who insisted on terrorism charges was removed without explanation. "They wanted to 'kill' the investigation," Ali-Keffi claimed.

Aftermath: Released Suspects and Stalled Justice

Following Ali-Keffi's detention and forced retirement, Operation Service Wide was effectively halted. He revealed that the suspects arrested by his team were all released without ever being charged in court.

Seeking redress, Ali-Keffi has filed a case at the National Industrial Court but alleges foul play, stating the court has not sat and processes were not served on the Nigerian Army.

His public account, as reported by Sahara Reporters, presents a stark picture of a high-level counter-terrorism operation that allegedly unearthed uncomfortable connections, only to be terminated by the very system it was designed to protect.
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