The Nigerian government has denied a report that President Muhammadu Buhari had relieved two service chiefs of their positions.
A report by New Telegraph had indicated that President Buhari had approved the retirement of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Gabriel Olonisakin, and the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas.
The report added that the retirement of the two was based on age adding that the CDS and the CNS both belong to the Regular Course 26 of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).
The report quoted sources as saying the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, is expected to take over from Olonisakin in acting capacity since he is the most senior service chief after Olonisakin.
It also said a former president of a Special Court-Martial, Air Vice Marshal James Gbum, is to expected assume the position of CAS, albeit in acting capacity before his confirmation.
But in reaction to the story, the presidency, in a statement signed by Femi Adesina, a spokesperson for Buhari, said the news organisation should have confirmed the story before going ahead to publish it.
"The newspaper, rather than rush to print an unsubstantiated story, would have done better to confirm the information at its disposal, from many available military and government information channels.
"It then would have avoided the self-inflicted wound of publishing a one-legged story that is not completely true, and damaging its brand in the process.
"Gen Olonisakin is due to retire from the Army next week, having satisfied the official number of years in service. He is yet to be replaced.
"But the Chief of Naval Staff has a short while more, and President Buhari could, therefore, not have approved his replacement yet.
"This administration has repeatedly pledged commitment to transparency and accountability, and one of the hallmarks of that is making information available to the media.
"But when some sections of the media would rather speculate, than cross-check and double check information, then it borders on deliberate mischief.
"That, surely, is not the way to go, for national cohesion and development," the statement said
While Olonisakin was commissioned Second Lieutenant on December 18, 1981, Ibas’ commissioning took place in 1983.
Military sources quoted in the report said the minister of defence, Brigadier General Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd), has since sent letters to the Service Chiefs, directing them to handoveron or before Friday, December 16.
The service chiefs were appointed alongside others in July 2015.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the minister of defence, Colonel Tukur Gusau has dismissed the report as untrue.
In a press statement sent to NAIJ.com, Gusau said his boss has not sent any letter directing the service chiefs to handover their offices.
Part of the statement read: “The attention of the Honourable Minister of Defence Mansur Muhammad Dan-Ali was drawn to some online publications claiming that he has sent letters to the Chief of Defence Staff General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin and Chief of the Naval staff Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas directing them to hand over their offices on or before Friday, 16 December.
“Please be informed that there was no such communication between the office of the Honourable Minister of Defence and the service chiefs directing any one of them to hand over his office and proceed on retirement.
“The appointment and replacement of service chiefs is a prerogative responsibility of the office of the President and Commander in Chief.”
UPDATE: Presidency denies replacement of service chiefs
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