Alhaji Tijjani Abdul Rauf has been taken into custody by the Nigerian Army on suspicion of posing as a retired major general.
Preliminary investigations showed that the suspect was never commissioned into the Nigerian Army, never achieved the rank of general, and never retired from the service, according to a statement released on Wednesday by Appolonia Anele, Acting Director of Army Public Relations.
Anele revealed that the suspect also made up claims to have received the national honor of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic and to have attended the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru.
“All of these allegations have been proven to be completely untrue and made up,” she stated.
According to the army, the defendant pretended to be a retired senior military officer in court and used the falsified credentials to intimidate citizens and command unwarranted respect and influence.
Anele claims that during questioning, media reports from two national publications were found, in which the suspect was frequently referred to be a retired major general.
According to her, one of these reports misidentified him as “Major General AbdulRauf Tijjani (rtd)” in a lawsuit he filed against the Lagos State Government and other defendants, seeking ₦8 billion in damages.
In describing his appeal against the dismissal of the same suit, which the court had previously characterized as a flagrant abuse of court process and incompetent in law, another report dated November 9, 2020, again referred to him as a “retired major general.”
According to the army, no retired officer has the name Alhaji Tijjani Abdul Rauf, and no officer with that name has ever held a major general position or higher.
“We vehemently denounce this impersonation, which is a serious offense, erodes public confidence, and defaces the honor and integrity of officers who have truly served the country with distinction,” Anele stated.
She went on to say that the army would keep working with the appropriate authorities to make sure that fraudsters and imposters are held accountable.
The public is therefore encouraged to confirm military status claims via the proper channels and alert security agencies to any dubious claims.
Therefore, law-abiding civilians are cautioned about the risks of impersonation or unlawful use of military uniforms and badges. We won’t think twice about bringing the full force of the law down on anyone involved in such behavior,” she continued.
Anele reiterated the Nigerian Army’s dedication to maintaining professionalism, responsibility, and integrity in the nation’s defense.
