Tinubu appoints acting Chief of Army Staff amid Lagbaja’s unclear whereabouts
Abdullateef Fowewe
President Bola Tinubu has appointed Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as the acting Chief of Army Staff.
This was obtained in a statement on Wednesday by the president’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga.
The COAS, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, has been on leave and out of the country since September.
Onanuga stated that Oluyede will act in the position pending the return of the indisposed substantive Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.
He wrote, “Until his appointment, Oluyede served as the 56th Commander of the elite Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, based in Jaji, Kaduna.
The 56-year-old Oluyede and Lagbaja were coursemates and members of the 39th Regular Course.
“He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1992, effective from 1987. He rose to Major-General in September 2020.
Oluyede has held many commands since his commissioning as an officer. He was Platoon Commander and adjutant at 65 Battalion, Company Commander at 177 Guards Battalion, Staff Officer Guards Brigade, Commandant Amphibious Training School.
“General Oluyede participated in several operations, including the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) Mission in Liberia, Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi, and Operation HADIN KAI in the North East theatre of operations, where he commanded 27 Task Force Brigade.”
Onanuga noted that Oluyede has earned many honours for his meritorious service in various fields of operations, including the Corps Medal of Honour, the Grand Service Star, Passing the Staff Course, and Membership in the National Institute.
“Others are the Field Command Medal, the Field Command Medal of Honour, and the Field Training Medal.
“Oluyede also received the coveted Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award.
“He is married and has three children,” Onanuga had written.
Meanwhile, Dailyeconomy reported that the Defence Headquarters on Monday, October 21, denied claims that it appointed a senior officer as the acting Chief of Army Staff, stressing that the COAS, Lagbaja is hale and hearty and will soon resume normal duties at the end of his annual leave.
“The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, is currently on a well-deserved rest as part of his 2024 annual leave.
“The COAS is hale and hearty and will soon resume normal duties at the end of his leave,” DHQ said in a statement, on Monday, October 21.