Al Mustapha not yet promoted – Nigerian Army says former CSO still a Major

The Nigerian Army has dismissed the report making the rounds that it had promoted the former Chief Security Officer,CSO, to the late General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha to a new rank of Brigadier-General.

The Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier-General Ibrahim Attahiru, in a statement issued in Abuja described the report as untrue and baseless.

The statement said that the Army was a professional body with all administrative procedures, and guided by extant rules and regulations such as the Armed Forces of Nigeria Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service (AFNHTCS).

The statement said “The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to an erroneous publication being circulated on the Internet about the decoration of the former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, Major Al-Mustapha with the rank of Brigadier-General, following his recent acquittal by the court.

“The Nigerian Army wishes to advise the media to always cross check facts before going to the press to avoid misinformation, misrepresentation, and sensationalism in its reportage.”

The army authorities had earlier in the week, following the acquittal of the former CSO by the Court of Appeal, confirmed that Al-Mustapha is still a member of the Armed Forces, asserting that his case would as a result be handled administratively, according to relevant Military rules.

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