By Harriet Tornguvan -Abuja
The Nigerian Army has uncovered and apprehended an alleged impostor, Alhaji Tijjani Abdul Rauf, for falsely presenting himself as a retired Major General of the Nigerian Army, in what authorities describe as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and exploit the prestige of the military institution.
In a statement issued by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the Army disclosed that preliminary investigations revealed that Abdul Rauf was never commissioned into the Nigerian Army at any time and did not attain the rank of General or retire from the Service in any capacity.
According to the statement, the suspect also falsely claimed to have attended the prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, and to have been conferred with the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR). The Army said these claims have been conclusively verified as false and entirely fabricated.
The Army further revealed that the impostor consistently exploited the alleged false credentials to intimidate unsuspecting members of the public, including during court proceedings where he reportedly presented himself as a retired senior military officer in a bid to command undue respect, sympathy and influence.
During interrogation, investigators reportedly recovered media publications from two nationally recognised newspapers in which Abdul Rauf was described as a “retired Major General.” One such report by Premium Times identified him as “Major General AbdulRauf Tijjani (rtd)” in a suit he instituted against the Lagos State Government and other respondents, seeking ₦8 billion in damages. Another report published by the Independent Newspaper on November 9, 2020, also referred to him as a retired Major General while detailing his appeal against the dismissal of the same suit, which a court had earlier described as a gross abuse of court process and incompetent in law.
The Nigerian Army categorically stated that no retired officer bears the name Alhaji Tijjani Abdul Rauf, and that no individual with such identity has ever held the rank of Major General or above in the Service.
Condemning the act, the Army described impersonation as a grave offence that undermines public trust and tarnishes the honour and integrity of officers who have genuinely served the nation with distinction.
It reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the sanctity of its ranks, honours and institutions, and pledged continued collaboration with relevant authorities to ensure that impostors and fraudsters are brought to justice.
The Army however, urged members of the public to verify claims of military status through appropriate channels and to report any suspicious representations to security agencies. It also warned against the unauthorised use of military uniforms, ranks and insignia, stressing that offenders would face the full weight of the law.
The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its resolve to uphold professionalism, integrity and accountability in the defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
