Buhari’s certificates with us, says Army

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.”