The Nigerian Army has uncovered and apprehended an alleged impostor, Alhaji Tijjani Abdul Rauf, accused of falsely presenting himself as a retired Major General and misleading the public.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, said investigations confirmed that Abdul Rauf was never commissioned into the Army, never attained the rank of General and never retired from the service in any capacity.
According to Anele, the suspect also falsely claimed to have attended the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies and to be a recipient of the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR).
“All these claims have been conclusively confirmed to be entirely false and fabricated,” the Army stated.
The Army further alleged that the suspect used the false credentials to intimidate unsuspecting civilians, including during court proceedings where he reportedly presented himself as a retired senior military officer to command undue respect and influence.
During interrogation, Anele said media reports from two national newspapers were recovered in which Abdul Rauf was repeatedly described as a retired Major General.
One report by Premium Times identified him as “Major General AbdulRauf Tijjani (rtd)” in a suit he filed against the Lagos State Government and others, seeking N8 billion in damages.
Another report by Independent Newspaper dated November 9, 2020, also referred to him as a retired Major General while covering his appeal against the dismissal of the same suit, which the court described as incompetent and a gross abuse of court process.
Anele maintained that no retired officer of the Nigerian Army bears the name Alhaji Tijjani Abdul Rauf, nor has any officer with such identity ever held the rank of Major General or above in the service.
She described impersonation as a grave offence that undermines public trust and tarnishes the honour of officers who have genuinely served the nation.
The Army reiterated its commitment to protecting the integrity of its ranks, honours and institutions, adding that it would continue to work with relevant authorities to ensure impostors are brought to justice.
Members of the public were urged to verify claims of military status through appropriate channels and report suspicious representations to security agencies.
