Army Arrests Man Posing as Retired Major General in Elaborate Impersonation Scheme

The Nigerian Army has arrested Alhaji Tijjani Abdul Rauf, a civilian who allegedly posed as a retired major general to intimidate victims, command undue influence, and prosecute lawsuits using forged military credentials.

In a statement released Wednesday, Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Appolonia Anele, disclosed that preliminary investigations confirmed the suspect was never commissioned into the Nigerian Army, did not attain the rank of major general, and never retired from military service.

Fabricated Credentials Unravel

Beyond the fake military identity, Rauf also falsely claimed to be an alumnus of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, and a recipient of the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR).

"All these claims have been conclusively confirmed to be entirely false and fabricated," Anele stated.

Courtroom Masquerade

The impersonator leveraged his counterfeit credentials in legal proceedings, including a suit against the Lagos State Government and other respondents in which he sought N8 billion in damages. Media reports recovered during interrogation repeatedly referred to him as "Major General AbdulRauf Tijjani (rtd)."

One report from November 2020 documented his appeal following the dismissal of the same suit, which a court had previously described as "a gross abuse of court process and incompetent in law."

The army confirmed that no retired officer bearing the name Alhaji Tijjani Abdul Rauf has ever held the rank of major general or above.

Public Warning

"We strongly condemn this act of impersonation, which constitutes a grave offence, undermines public trust and tarnishes the honour and integrity of officers who have genuinely served the nation with distinction," Anele said.

The army urged citizens to verify claims of military status through appropriate channels and report suspicious representations to security agencies. Authorities also warned against unauthorized use of military uniforms and badges, vowing to prosecute offenders to the full extent of the law.

The suspect remains in custody as investigations continue.