Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Leo Irabor has ordered about 50 Generals in the Nigerian military to forward their resignation with immediate effect and exit the Military job. The affected officers cut across all the military arms of the Army, the Air Force and the Navy, though the report revealed 25 of the affected officers are in the Army. According to the source, The CDS gave the order today at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja. During the late afternoon meeting, the CDS thanked the Generals for the effort they rendered to their fatherland and said it was time for them to leave the stage.
Although no reason was given by the CDS for his directive, a source revealed that Course 36 amongst the Generals still have three years before they attain retirement.
Accordingly, the source explained, “They are about 50; 2 of them in the Army will retire in 2022, while the rest have about 3 and half years left in service”,
A different source from the military also expressed concern that why is the Armed Forces are eager to relieve its experienced officers at the time when a pogrom is being unleashed on the citizens.
Recently, the CDS intervened in the 2016 forceful retirement of 38 Army officers via a letter (Ref. No. CDS/8/A) to Defence Minister, Bashir Magashi, a retired Major General.
The reinstated offers were illegally relieved from their duties in June 2016, an action described as arbitrary by experts, concerned Nigerians and those affected.
It was revealed that until today, the Military authorities are yet to implement the court order reinstating the dismissed officers.
In May 2020, Justice Edith Agbakoba approved that contempt of court charge is filed against military chiefs for failing to comply with a valid order.