EXCLUSIVE: Nigeria’s Chief Of Army Staff, Lagbaja ‘Incapacitated’ Abroad As Military Generals Lobby, Jostle For Position

Top military officers are jostling for the position of Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff as Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, the current incumbent, deals with an undisclosed health issue, sources told SaharaReporters. 

This development has led to intense lobbying of politicians and influential retired generals by those eager to succeed Lagbaja.

Lagbaja, born on February 28, 1968, in Ilobu, Osun State, was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023, as the 27th Chief of Army Staff.

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He took office on June 23, 2023, replacing Faruk Yahaya as the Chief of Army Staff. 

The Chief of Army Staff reports to the Chief of Defence Staff, who in turn reports to the Defence Minister, accountable to the President of Nigeria. With Lagbaja's health issues sparking concerns, the race for his successor is gaining momentum, with several top military officers vying for the coveted position.

On Tuesday, SaharaReporters exclusively reported how the Army General was flown abroad by his family members to attend to his medical needs.

Sources described his ailment as “strange” to SaharaReporters.

“The Chief of Army Staff is nowhere to be found for many days now. He hasn’t been seen at the Army headquarters or any military function in the last three weeks. I can confirm to you that he is seriously sick and was taken to the hospital. However, his family members arranged for him to be moved out of the country for medical treatment,” one of the sources had said. 

“The COAS is a leader and most of the Major Generals are doing anyhow because they have no one to report to currently. Anybody can fall sick but someone needs to be in charge. I wish him a very quick recovery, I have known him since our days in Makurdi, Benue State. We were both young officers then and he was a captain.”

A Major had also said, “As military men, we were taught to be observant, so I noticed he was not at the October 1 Independence Day parade ground in Abuja. I asked my superiors including a general and I was told that he was out of the country. You know, it is unusual for him not to be around at that time.

“Also, the 2024 promotion list of soldiers which was completed a few weeks back is yet to be signed by the COAS. I was told that the Chief of Administration cannot do it because it will escalate the COAS’s absence. Some of my subordinates who are due for promotion are already grumbling.”

Lagbaja's health has taken a turn for the worse, causing significant concern within the military, according to multiple sources who spoke to SaharaReporters on Friday. According to them, the Chief of Army Staff is now bedridden and incapacitated due to his deteriorating condition.

“His health is seriously deteriorating and he is currently capable. He is on sick bed; he can’t hear what people are saying again, just like someone with hearing problems. We are praying for his quick recovery,” one of the sources said. 

“So it’s a very serious illness but the Army authorities can never disclose it now. Even before this stage, General Lagbaja was prepared to resign because of the heath challenge.”

SaharaReporters learnt that Lagbaja's health issues have sparked intense lobbying among senior military officers to succeed him as Chief of Army Staff. Major Generals are secretly campaigning and lobbying influential figures, including top politicians, traditional rulers, lawmakers, and military godfathers, to secure the position. 

As Lagbaja's health continues to deteriorate, the race for his replacement gains momentum. His background and experience make his departure significant. As a seasoned military officer, Lagbaja has held various command, staff, and instructional appointments. His previous roles include serving as the General Officer Commanding at Headquarters 82 Division and Headquarters 1 Division.

If Lagbaja does not recover from the “strange” ailment, one thing is certain – the next Chief of Army Staff will face significant challenges in leading the Nigerian Army.

“With the kind of ailment he (Lagbaja) is battling with, no President will allow him to continue in that position even if discharged from the hospital. So serious lobbying is going on now underground for his replacement by some senior Army officers right now, especially those from course 40/41,” one of the sources said.

Earlier, Army spokesman, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, told SaharaReporters that Lagbaja was on leave and entitled to it after working “so hard for the country”.

He had said, “If the Chief of Army staff travels out after working for many years, are you saying it’s wrong for him to travel out when he is on leave? So if you work for years and go for a few weeks’ vacation or something, does it mean you are sick? So because we are in uniform, we should die working?

“For instance, I have worked for almost seven years, I haven’t gone on leave. I didn’t go on leave till I went to bury my mum, when I was given a week-plus to go and bury my mum.

“Because we are in uniform, we should die working? We shouldn’t have a week or two for vacation. Is it even abnormal for someone to go for (medical) check-up? Must you even be sick before going for medical checkup? Are we not supposed to evaluate ourselves?

“We need to understand some things; for the past seven years, I haven’t gone on leave. It’s a call to national duty. People need to understand the sacrifices soldiers are making.

“There was a point that I came to my home and my children didn’t even know me."

“I don’t think it’s out of place for myself or any other person, even if it’s a top brass in the army to travel out or in any of the services to travel out for rest or do a medical checkup or something. I don’t think there should be any fuss about that,” the army spokesperson had added.