By Joy Odor Reportcircle News| Abuja
The Nigerian Army has uncovered and apprehended a suspected serial impostor who allegedly posed for years as a retired Major General, falsely claiming elite credentials and national honours to command influence in public and legal circles.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Army disclosed that one Alhaji Tijjani Abdul Rauf fraudulently paraded himself as a retired senior officer, despite never being commissioned into the Service at any time.
Preliminary investigations, according to military authorities, confirmed that no retired officer of the Nigerian Army bears the name, nor has any individual with such identity ever held the rank of Major General or above.
Beyond the alleged rank falsification, the suspect reportedly claimed to have attended the prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, a credential often associated with senior public office holders and high-level policy professionals.
He also purportedly asserted that he was a recipient of the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), an honour reserved for distinguished service to the nation.
The Army stated that all such claims were conclusively established to be false and fabricated.
According to investigators, the suspect leveraged the assumed military status to intimidate unsuspecting civilians and bolster his standing during court proceedings.
Recovered materials reportedly include media publications in two nationally recognised newspapers where the individual was repeatedly described as a “retired Major General.”
One report by Premium Times identified him as “Major General AbdulRauf Tijjani (rtd)” in a suit he instituted against the Lagos State Government and others, seeking ₦8 billion in damages.
Another publication by Independent Newspaper dated 9 November 2020 also referred to him as a retired major general while detailing his appeal after the court dismissed the same suit, describing it as a gross abuse of court process and incompetent in law.
Military authorities said the misrepresentations illustrate the extent to which the suspect allegedly sustained the deception within the public domain.
The Army condemned the act as a grave offence that undermines public trust and tarnishes the integrity of officers who have legitimately served the country.
“This act of impersonation constitutes a serious crime,” the statement noted, adding that the institution remains committed to protecting the sanctity of its ranks and honours.
impersonation of high-ranking military officials poses reputational and operational risks, particularly in a country where military credentials often confer authority in business, political and judicial settings.
The Army urged members of the public to verify claims of military status through appropriate channels and report suspicious representations to security agencies.
It also warned against the unauthorised use of military uniforms, insignia and titles, stating that offenders would face the full weight of the law.
As investigations continue, authorities say the case serves as a reminder that institutional credibility particularly within the armed forces remains a guarded national asset.
For the Nigerian Army, the message is unequivocal: rank is earned through service, not assumed through deception.
