Twenty-nine army generals have been forced to retire from
service following the appointment of Farouk Yahaya as the chief of
army staff.
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
![image](/2021/05/lawp.jpg")
The forceful retirement of the generals contradicts the claim by
the Defence Headquarters last week that none of its personnel had
been retired following the appointment of Mr Yahaya, who belonged
to Regular Course 37.
![image](/2021/05/NBASBL2021.jpg")
Mr Yahaya, a major general, from Sokoto State, was named the
army chief by President Muhammadu Buhari on May 27.
He succeeded Ibrahim Attahiru, a lieutenant general, who died on
May 21 in a plane crash alongside 10 other military personnel while
on official assignment to Zaria, Kaduna State.
Shortly after the appointment of the new COAS, there were
speculations that between 30 and 45 generals, who are his seniors,
may be asked to go home.
The senior generals belong to Regular Courses 35 and 36.
It is a tradition in the military that when a junior is
appointed as a service chief, senior officers, who are ahead of him
or her, would proceed on retirement.
The understanding is that senior military officers are unlikely
to take orders from their juniors.
The Defence Headquarters, however, dismissed the speculations of
massive retirement, saying the retirement of senior officers from
the military was always ‘voluntary’.
It said the military high command had yet to authorise the
retirement of any officer.
The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Bernard Onyeuko,
a brigadier general, who briefed journalists on the matter last
week, said retirement of senior officers from the military was
always voluntary.
“At this point, you are all aware of the appointment of the new
Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya,” Mr Onyeuko said.
“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.”
A memo sighted by PREMIUM TIMES, Not Nairalaw indicates
that a total of 29 Army major generals have been approved to
proceed on terminal leave, paving way for their eventual
retirement.
Their retirement comes less than two weeks after the appointment
of Mr Yahaya as the COAS.
According to the memo, the 29 generals, from regular course 36
have been approved to proceed on terminal leave.
Among the generals are J.B Olawumi, J.O. Akomolafe, C.O. Ude, G.
Oyefesobi, M.O. Uzoh, C.C. Okonkwo and M.S.A. Aliyu.
Others are U.M. Mohammed, B.M. Ashafa, N.E. Angbazo, Y.P. Auta
and S.A. Yaro. (See the full list below).
Their leave was approved with effect from June 1, 2021.
The memo was, however, silent on major generals from the regular
course 35, who are also Mr Yahaya 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
Twenty-nine army generals have been forced to retire from
service following the appointment of Farouk Yahaya as the chief of
army staff.
The forceful retirement of the generals contradicts the claim by
the Defence Headquarters last week that none of its personnel had
been retired following the appointment of Mr Yahaya, who belonged
to Regular Course 37.
Mr Yahaya, a major general, from Sokoto State, was named the
army chief by President Muhammadu Buhari on May 27.
He succeeded Ibrahim Attahiru, a lieutenant general, who died on
May 21 in a plane crash alongside 10 other military personnel while
on official assignment to Zaria, Kaduna State.
Shortly after the appointment of the new COAS, there were
speculations that between 30 and 45 generals, who are his seniors,
may be asked to go home.
The senior generals belong to Regular Courses 35 and 36.
It is a tradition in the military that when a junior is
appointed as a service chief, senior officers, who are ahead of him
or her, would proceed on retirement.
The understanding is that senior military officers are unlikely
to take orders from their juniors.
The Defence Headquarters, however, dismissed the speculations of
massive retirement, saying the retirement of senior officers from
the military was always ‘voluntary’.
It said the military high command had yet to authorise the
retirement of any officer.
The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Bernard Onyeuko,
a brigadier general, who briefed journalists on the matter last
week, said retirement of senior officers from the military was
always voluntary.
“At this point, you are all aware of the appointment of the new
Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya,” Mr Onyeuko said.
“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.”
A memo sighted by PREMIUM TIMES, Not Nairalaw indicates
that a total of 29 Army major generals have been approved to
proceed on terminal leave, paving way for their eventual
retirement.
Their retirement comes less than two weeks after the appointment
of Mr Yahaya as the COAS.
According to the memo, the 29 generals, from regular course 36
have been approved to proceed on terminal leave.
Among the generals are J.B Olawumi, J.O. Akomolafe, C.O. Ude, G.
Oyefesobi, M.O. Uzoh, C.C. Okonkwo and M.S.A. Aliyu.
Others are U.M. Mohammed, B.M. Ashafa, N.E. Angbazo, Y.P. Auta
and S.A. Yaro. (See the full list below).
Their leave was approved with effect from June 1, 2021.
The memo was, however, silent on major generals from the regular
course 35, who are also Mr Yahaya 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