A leaked memo from the Nigerian military has indicated that 29 Major Generals have been forced to retire from the Army on account of the appointment of Major General Farouk Yahaya as the Chief of Army Staff by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The forced retirement is contrary to denials made by the Defence headquarters, which said there was no such plans in the offing.
There had been speculations that about 35 senior Army Generals cut across Course 35 and 36 will be eased out of the Army because the new COAS Yahaya is junior to them, since he is of Course 37 but this was denied by the spokesman of the Defence Headquarters, Bernard Onyeuko, a Brigadier General.
He said: “At this point, you are all aware of the appointment of the new Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya.
“This has stirred up a lot of rumours in the media about mass retirements in the military.
“I wish to use this medium to dispel such unfounded rumours as retirement is only on a voluntary basis for senior officers who desire to do so.
“At this point, no retirements have been authorised by the military high command.”
Despite Onyeuko’s denial a memo sighted by PREMIUM TIMES confirms confirmed that a of 29 Army Major Generals, all from Course 36, have been approved to proceed on terminal leave with effect from June 1, 2021, paving way for their eventual retirement.
The memo, according Premium Times report, was however, silent on Major Generals from the regular course 35, who are also Mr Yahaya’s seniors.
Below is the full list of Generals proceeding on retirement:
1. JB Olawumi
2. JO Akomolafe
3. CO Ude
4. G Oyefesobi
5. MO Uzoh
6. CC Okonkwo
7. MSA Aliyu
8. UM Mohammed
9. BM Shafa
10. NE Angbazo
11. YP Auta
12. SA Yaro
13. J Sarham
14. HE Ayamasoawei
15. OF Azinta
16. BA Akinroluyo
17. KAY Isiyaku
18. AT Hamman
19. AM Aliyu
20. HPZ Vintienagba
21. HR Momoh
22. JR Unuigbe
23. AA Jidda
24. OI Uzomere
25. MH Magaji
26. LA Adegboye
27. MA Masanawa
28. OA Akinyemi
29. AM Dauda
