The Nigerian Army has uncovered and apprehended a notorious impostor, Alhaji Tijjani Abdul Rauf, who falsely paraded himself as a retired Major General, misleading the public and abusing the prestige of the military institution.
In a statement, the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, said preliminary investigations 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.
She further disclosed that the suspect fraudulently claimed to have attended the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, and falsely asserted that he was a recipient of the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR). These claims, according to the Army, have been conclusively established as entirely false and fabricated.
The statement noted that the impostor consistently exploited the false credentials to intimidate unsuspecting civilians, including during court proceedings where he presented himself as a retired senior military officer in order to command undue respect, sympathy and influence.
During interrogation, media reports published in two nationally recognised newspapers were recovered, in which the individual was repeatedly referred to as a “retired Major General.” The Army said these misrepresentations further demonstrated the extent to which the suspect sustained his deception within the public space.
One such report by Premium Times falsely 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 by Independent Newspaper dated 9 November 2020 also described 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.
The Nigerian Army categorically stated that no retired officer 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.
The Army strongly condemned the act of impersonation, describing it as a grave offence that undermines public trust and tarnishes the honour and integrity of officers who have genuinely served the nation with distinction.
Reiterating its commitment to protecting the sanctity of its ranks, honours and institutions, the Nigerian Army said it would continue to collaborate with relevant authorities to ensure that impostors and fraudsters are brought to justice.
Members of the public were urged to verify claims of military status through appropriate channels and report any suspicious representations to security agencies. Law-abiding citizens were also warned against impersonation or the unauthorized use of military uniforms and badges, with the Army stressing that offenders would be subjected to the full weight of the law.
The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to professionalism, integrity and accountability in the defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
