The authorities of the Nigerian Army have said the service will readily release credentials and certificates in its custody to serving and retired officers in need of them.

The Director, Amy Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Olajide Laleye, said in an exclusive interview with our correspondent in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said the procedure for the retrieval or collection of the certificates was known to all serving or retired officers of the military.

The Army spokesman was reacting to a declaration by the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj.Gen Muhammadu Buhari (retd), that his credentials were with the military.

Our correspondent asked Laleye if it was true that the military was keeping the General’s certificates.

Buhari had said in an affidavit he deposed to at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on November 24, 2014 and received by Independent National Electoral Commission on December 18, 2014, that all his certificates were with the Secretary, Military Board.

“I am the above-named person and deponent to this affidavit therein.

“All my academic qualifications, documents as filled in my presidential form, President APC/001/2015, are currently with the Secretary, Military Board as of the time of presenting this affidavit. The affidavit is made in good faith and for record purpose,” Buhari stated.

But Laleye stated that the Army would not refuse any officer whose certificates were in its custody from getting them if the existing procedure was followed.

He said the Army could not have deprived anybody access to his credentials since the credentials did not belong to the service.

He said, “Every serving and retired Army officer has at least a copy of his certificates and credentials kept in the Nigerian Army while that same serving and retired officer has copies of those same certificates and credentials.

“And there is a laid-down procedure to request for certificates. It is known to any serving and retired officer.

“If you want anything checked in your file, you simply follow the due process and it would be given to you because the credentials belong to you.”

“The Nigerian Army does not refuse to give anybody his credentials if the due process is followed. Now, take note of this. Not only does the Nigerian Army keep these things, the individual officers, whether serving or retired, have copies.”

[size=20pt]Nigerian Army Has Buhari’s Academic Records, But He Needs To Apply[/size]

The director of public relations of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier Olaleye Lajide, has dismissed reports in the Nigerian media claiming that the army could not find academic records of General Muhammadu Buhari (ret.), the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The director of public relations of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier Olaleye Lajide, has dismissed reports in the Nigerian media claiming that the army could not find academic records of General Muhammadu Buhari (ret.), the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Brigadier Lajide described the reports as false. Major General Muhammadu Buhari in military uniform Corbis

The military spokesman made the disclosure while responding to a text message from SaharaReporters seeking clarification about the status of Mr. Buhari’s records. Brigadier Lajide affirmed that the Nigerian Army is in possession of all records of serving, retired and deceased officers since its inception. He added, however, that all military officers are supposed to keep original copies of their certificates.

According to him, in the event where an officer loses his or her original copy of records, the concerned officer must officially apply for copies from the army. He stated that the army responds to such requests in an expeditious manner.

Brigadier Lajide told our correspondent that he was a former director of records at the Nigerian Army headquarters and had seen records of older and retired generals. He added that he was in no doubt that General Buhari’s records were intact.

Brigadier Olaleye insisted that the claim in a major Nigerian newspaper, that the army could not locate Mr. Buhari’s record was untrue.

[size=15pt]We have Buhari’s records and certificates – Nigerian Army[/size]
The Nigerian Army has dismissed reports in the Nigerian media claiming that the army could not find academic records of General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Director of public relations, Brigadier Olajide Olaleye, told SaharaReporters that the Nigerian Army is in possession of all records of serving, retired and deceased officers since its inception.

He added, however, that all military officers are supposed to keep original copies of their certificates.

According to him, in the event where an officer loses his or her original copy of records, the concerned officer must officially apply for copies from the army.

The spokesman disclosed that the Nigerian Army responds to such requests in an expeditious manner.

Brigadier Olaleye added that he was a former director of records at the Nigerian Army headquarters and had seen records of older and retired generals, affirming that General Buhari’s records were intact.

Brigadier Olaleye insisted that the claim in a major Nigerian newspaper, that the army could not locate Mr. Buhari’s record was untrue.

[size=25pt]Buhari’s certificates: What Wikipedia says[/size]

BY OLAKUNLE OLAFIOYE

The last may not have been heard about the controversy trailing the educational certificates of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2015 general elections, Gen Muhammadu Buhari (retd).

Following Buhari’s explanation in an affidavit submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that his certificates were with the military, some critics have been raising the dust, insinuating that the former head of state lied about the schools he attended.

Although none of the institutions the APC presidential candidate attended has denied his studentship, Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia, in a profile of the former head of state listed his academic and professional qualifications from schools at home and abroad. According to Wikipedia, Buhari joined the Nigerian Army in 1962, when he attended the Nigerian Military Training College which was renamed the Nigerian Defence Academy, (NDA)), Kaduna, in 1964. From 1962-1963, he underwent Officer Cadets training at Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot in England, United Kingdom (Mons OCS was officially closed down in 1972).

In January 1963, Buhari was commissioned as Second Lieutenant, and appointed Platoon Commander of the Second Infantry Battalion in Abeokuta, Nigeria.

From November 1963- January 1964, Buhari attended the Platoon Commanders’ Course at the Nigerian Military College, Kaduna. In 1964, he facilitated his military training by attending the Mechanical Transport Officer’s Course at the Army Mechanical Transport School in Borden, United Kingdom.

From 1965-1967, Buhari served as Commander of the Second Infantry Battalion. He was appointed Brigade Major, Second Sector, First Infantry Division, April 1967 to July 1967.

Buhari was made Brigade Major of the Third Infantry Brigade, July 1967 to October 1968 and Brigade Major/ Commandant, Thirty-first Infantry Brigade, 1970-1971.

Buhari served as the Assistant Adjutant-General, First Infantry Division Headquarters, 1971- 1972. He also attended the Defense Services’ Staff College, Wellington, India, in 1973.

From 1974-1975, Buhari was appointed Acting Director, Transport and Supply, Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport Headquarters.

He was also made Military Secretary, Army Headquarters, 1978- 1979, and a member of the Supreme Military Council, 1978-1979. From 1979 -1980, at the rank of colonel, Buhari attended the US Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, United States of America and obtained a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies.

The military is yet to officially issue a statement controverting the explanation made by Buhari about his certificates in his affidavit to INEC even as Nigerians are anxiously waiting to see how the unfolding scenario will play out.

taharqa:
@OP, in NONE of those 3 articles you postd did d Military say they had Buhari original certificates. It only said they had d 'Service records or photocopies?' of d credentials of past senior officials, who shld in fact be able to easily get access to it if they so chose (smtin Buhari didn't do).... Stop reading the titles of articles and bliving them

Optimisticgondy:
I'm confused

skyprofm:
So haters of GMB can go jump inside well

taharqa:
@OP, in NONE of those 3 articles you postd did d Military say they had Buhari original certificates. It only said they had d 'Service records or photocopies?' of d credentials of past senior officials, who shld in fact be able to easily get access to it if they so chose (smtin Buhari didn't do).... Stop reading the titles of articles and bliving them