The House of Representatives confirmed the appointment of Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede as the substantive Chief of Army Staff on Thursday.

His confirmation followed a report of an ad-hoc committee set up to screen him.

The Defence Headquarters dismissed death rumours about former army chief Taoreed Lagbaja in October as a lie, adding that Lagbaja was on medical leave.

But on October 30, President Tinubu appointed Oluyede to act in his stead.

Oluyede, who was until his appointment a major general, was decorated by the president as lieutenant general on November 5.

On November 6 the presidency broke the news of Lagbaja’s death.

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Following the conclusion of the burial of the 23rd Chief of Army Staff at the National Military Cemetary in Abuja on November 15, Tinubu wrote to the National Assembly on November 22 for the constitutional screening and confirmation of Oluyede as the new COAS.

ABOUT OLUYEDE

Between 1992, when he started his career as a second lieutenant in the army, and 2020 when he attained the rank of a major general, Oluyede held various roles within the institution.

“Before he was appointed Acting Chief of Army Staff, Oluyede, a member of the 39th Regular Course, like his predecessor, served as the 56th Commander of the elite Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, based in Jaji, Kaduna,” Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s special adviser on information and strategy, wrote on November 22.

“He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1992, effective from 1987. He rose to Major-General in September 2020. Since his commissioning as an officer, Oluyede has held many command positions.

“He was Platoon Commander and adjutant at 65 Battalion, Company Commander at 177 Guards Battalion, Staff Officer in the Guards Brigade, and Commandant of the Amphibious Training School.

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“General Oluyede participated in several operations, including the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) Mission in Liberia, Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi, and Operation HADIN KAI in the North East theatre of operations, where he commanded 27 Task Force Brigade.

“For his meritorious service in various fields of operations, he has earned many honours, including the Corps Medal of Honour, the Grand Service Star, Passing the Staff Course, and Membership in the National Institute. Others are the Field Command Medal, the Field Command Medal of Honour, and the Field Training Medal. Oluyede also received the coveted Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award.”