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.”