Buhari’s certificates with us, says Army

Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.)

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.”