The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has scheduled 28 and 29 October 2026 for proceedings in the ₦1.5 billion defamation suit instituted by former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General (Dr) Faruk Yahaya (rtd) CFR NAM, Zarumman Sokoto, against retired Major General Danjuma Hamisu Ali-Keffi, Arise Broadcasting Limited and Sahara Reporters Media Group Inc. The suit, marked No. CV/132/26, is before FCT high Court No. 2, Abuja.

It will be recalled that in the suit instituted on 14 January 2026, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya (rtd) CFR is seeking, among other reliefs, formal retractions and public apologies from the defendants, as well as monetary damages of ₦1.5 billion and ₦600 million respectively, as stated in the Writ of Summons.

On 17 March 2026, the court granted an order for substituted service of the originating court processes on the defendants. Under the order, the Court Bailiff was authorised to serve the processes through publication in a national newspaper circulating within the Federal Capital Territory and by pasting the documents at the defendants’ last known addresses.

Lead counsel to Lieutenant General Yahaya, Mohammed Ndayako, SAN, confirmed the order and explained that it became necessary following what he described as repeated evasion of service. He specifically stated that retired Major General Ali-Keffi declined to acknowledge service at his post-retirement residence in Kurudu, Abuja, as recorded in his Nigerian Army service records hence the substituted service of the originating court processes.