The Nigerian Army has arrested a self-acclaimed ‘retired General’, Alhaji Tijjani Abdul Rauf, seeking the sum of ₦8 billion in damages against Lagos government impostor.
Citing some past Newspaper publications where he made the false and misleading claims, the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel
Appolonia Anele alleged in a statement that Rauf, falsely paraded himself as a retired Major General of the Nigerian Army, by abusing the prestige of the military.
One of such report published by one of the online Newspapers, the accused falsely identified himself as “Major General AbdulRauf Tijjani (rtd)” in a suit instituted against the Lagos State Government and other respondents, in which he sought the damages.
Preliminary investigations by the agency, revealed that the individual was never commissioned into the Nigerian Army at any time, nor did he attain the rank of General or retire from the Service in any capacity.
The Army spokesperson who did not disclose details of the suit involving the Lagos State government, said findings established that he fraudulently claimed attendance of the prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru.
The Army alleged impostor also falsely asserted that he was a recipient of the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), noting that the claims have been conclusively confirmed to be entirely false and fabricated.
The alleged impostor was found to have consistently exploited these false credentials to intimidate unsuspecting civilians, including during court proceedings where he presented himself as a retired senior military officer to command undue respect, sympathy and influence.
The Army spokesperson explained that: “These misrepresentations, now established to be false, further demonstrate the extent to which the individual sustained his deception within the public space”.
“One of such report published by the Premium Times, falsely identified him as “Major General AbdulRauf Tijjani (rtd)” in a suit instituted against the Lagos State Government and other respondents, in which he sought ₦8 billion in damages”.
The Army recalled a similar report published by the Independent Newspaper dated 9 November 2020, also erroneously referred to him as a “retired major general” while detailing his appeal against the dismissal of the same suit, which the court had earlier described as a gross abuse of court process and incompetent in law.
It stated that the Nigerian Army insisted 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 within the Service.
“We strongly condemns this act of impersonation, which constitutes a grave offence, undermines public trust and tarnishes the honour and integrity of officers who have genuinely served the nation with distinction”, according to the Army.
The Nigerian Army also assured of its commitment to protecting the sanctity of its ranks, honours and institutions and will continue to collaborate with relevant authorities to ensure that impostors and fraudsters are brought to justice.
The statement further enjoined members of the public are hereby urged to verify claims of military status through appropriate channels and report any suspicious representations to security agencies in upholding professionalism, integrity and accountability in the defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
This is fraud of the highest order, where do they get the costumes to wear in the first place
Impersonation in the highest order
Say no to impersonation
Say no to impersonation
This is an act of impersonation, and it’s a very huge crime.
Okay
Nice one.
New Nigeria
No to impersonation