Breaking News
Army Retires Unspecified Number of Officers
- Attributes exercise to ‘service exigencies’
- Major generals, brigadiers, colonels, lt. cols, major affected
By Senator Iroegbu in Abuja
The Nigeria Army has retired an unspecified number of senior officers premising their retirement on what it called ‘service exigencies.’
A statement by the Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, saturday, said the Nigerian Army Council approved the retirement of the officers made up of Major Generals, Brigadier Generals, Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels and a Major.
Usman’s statement did not mention the number of officers who were retired nor were their names released, but military sources said they were about 50.
Explaining that some of the affected officers are still under investigation and it would not be proper to disclose their names, Usman recalled that not too long ago some officers were investigated for being partisan during the 2015 general elections.
He also noted that the investigation by the Presidential Committee investigating Defence Contracts revealed a lot, adding, “some officers have already been arraigned in court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).”
“People should therefore not read this (retirement exercise) out of context,” he said, adding, “The military must remain apolitical and professional at all times.”
The army spokesman said members of the public “must applaud and support this laudable and bold initiative by the government.”
According to names obtained from military sources by THISDAY, those affected were said to include Maj Gen FO Ali, Maj Gen EG Atewe, Maj Gen Ejemai, Maj Gen MY Ibrahim, Maj Gen IN Ijioma, Maj Gen Koleoso, Maj Gen PAT Akem, Maj Gen LC Ilo, Maj Gen SD Aliyu, Brig Gen Onibasa, and Brig Gen IM Lawson.
Others are Brig Gen D Abdusalam, Brig Gen Bashir Mormoni, Brig Gen ASH Sahaad, Brig Gen Koko Essien, Brig Gen MD Onoiveta, Brig Gen LM Bello, Brig Gen MG Ali, Brig Gen Oyefesobi, Brig Gen Ogidi, Brig Gen Fiboinumama and Brig Gen Agachi.
Others are Col OU Nwankwo, Col Adegbe, Col DR Hassan, Col TT Minima, Col CK Ukoha, Col FD Kayode, Col Achinze, Lt Col Oladuntoye, Lt Col Adinmoha, and Lt Col CO Amadi.
Others on the list, according to sources, are Lt Col Baba Ochanpa, Lt Col Dazang, Lt Col TE Arigbe, Lt Col Egemole, Lt Col A Suleiman, Lt Col A Mohammed, Lt Col AS Mohammed, Lt Col Enemchukwu and Maj TA Williams.
the former Commander, Guards Brigade, Maj-Gen: Emmanuel Atewe; former Director of Military Intelligence, Brig-Gen. Bashir Sa’ad; Military Attache to former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), Nicholas Ashinze; and ADC to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Col. Adegbe.
Others affected in the purge are: Major Generals FO Alli, Ejemai, and MY Ibrahim; Brigadier Generals: D Abdussalam, MG Ali, Onibasa, LN Bello, Onoyiveta, Fiboinumama, Agachi, Okwonkwo; Colonels Adegbe, Ukoha, TT Minimah; and Lieutenant Colonels: Oladuntoye, CO Amadi, Adimoha, Dazang, Arigbe, Egemole, Baba-Ochankpa, A Mohammed (47 RC), and AS Mohammed.
Also on retirement lists are senior officers Koko Essien, Brig-Gen. Mumuni Bashir, Oladuntoye, Baba Ochankpa, Lawan, Ilo (not yet confirmed), Defence Attache to Beijing, Col MA Suleiman, DR Hassan, D Abdusalam, Mustee, SD Aliyu, and Enemchukwu amongst others.
