Profile Of All The Service Chiefs Just Appointed By President Tinubu

 

Following their appointment by President Bola Tinubu, here are all you need to know about the new service chiefs.

 

 

Christopher Gwabin Musa was born in Sokoto on December 25, 1967. He originally hails from Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State. He is a member of the 38 Infantry course, admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1986 and commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry Corps in September 1991.

 

He holds an Advanced Diploma in Security Management from University of Lagos, Advance Diploma in Defence and Strategic Course (China) – International College of Defence Studies -National Defense University (ICDS-NDU) – Changing – China, amongst others.

 

Major-General Musa has attended all statutory Military Courses and Trainings both in Nigeria and outside Nigeria.

 

On previous positions held, he was at one time Commander, General Staff Officer 1 Training/Operations at HQ 81 Division, Commanding Officer 73 Battalion, Assistant Director Operational Requirements at Department of Army Policy and Plans, Infantry Representative/Member Training Team at HQ Nigerian Army Armour Corps, Commandant of the Nigerian Army Depot, Managing Director of the Nigerian Army Farms and Ranches Limited (NAFARL).

 

Also, he was the Deputy Chief of Staff Training/Operations at HQ Infantry Centre and Corps, Commander Sector 3 OP LAFIYA DOLE, Commander Sector 3 Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Region, and other positions too numerous to mention.

 

He took over as the Theatre Commander Of Operation HADIN KAI in 2021 (after the elevation of the former Commander, Faruk Yahaya as COAS), a position he held until January 2023 when he was transferred to head the Infantry Corps in Kaduna.

 

President Bola Tinubu on Monday appointed Major General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja as the Chief of Army Staff.

 

Major General Lagbaja replaces Lt-Gen Faruk Yahaya, who was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021.

 

 

a. Born in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area, Osun State on 28 February 1968.

 

b. Attended Local Authority Teachers College Demonstration School Osogbo between 1973 – 1979.

 

c. Attended St Charles Grammar School, Osogbo from 1979 – 1984.

 

d. Attended The Polytechnic, Ibadan from 1984 to 1986 and obtained West African School Certificate (Advanced Level).

 

e. Admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy on 12 September 1987 as a member of 39th Regular Course.

 

f. Commissioned as 2Lt on 19 September 1992 into the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps.

 

Courses Attended

 

a. Company Amphibious Operations Course – Amphibious Training School (May – June 1993). – C.

 

b. Young Officers’ Course (Infantry) – Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (September – December 1993). – C+

 

c. Basic Airborne Course – Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (March – April 1995). – Not Graded

 

d. Advanced Airborne Course – Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (November – December 1995). – Not Graded

 

e. Amphibious Staff Operations Course – Amphibious Training School (September – December 1997). – C

 

f. Company Commanders’ Course – Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (February – May 2003). – C+

 

g. Battalion Commanders’ Course – Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (September – December 2009). – B

 

h. Junior Staff Course – Armed Forces Command and Staff (May – December 2000). – C+

 

i. Senior Staff Course – Armed Forces Command and Staff (August 2005 – July 2006). – C+

 

j. Military Observers Course – Peacekeeping Wing Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (February – May 2008). – B

 

k. ECOWAS Standby Force Battalion Command Post Course – Peacekeeping Centre, Bamako, Mali – (June – August 2010). – Not Graded

 

l. Strategy and Leadership Course – US Army War College (April 2003 – June 2014). – Not Graded

 

 

Happily married to Mrs Mariya Abiodun-Lagbaja and the marriage is blessed with two children.

 

 

Watching documentary and reading biographies.

 

 

Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla was born on December 20, 1968, in Umuopu Enugu Ezike, Igbo Eze North LGA of Enugu State, Nigeria. He obtained the WASC from the NMS Zaria in June 1987, where he graduated as the best boy in Sciences. He had A1 in all subjects except English language.

 

He is a member of the 39 RC NDA, graduated with a BSc in Maths and was awarded sword of honour as the best naval cadet in his course. He was commissioned S Lt on Sep 16, 1992 and rose to the rank of R Adm wef Sep 16, 2021. He completed the STC NNS QUORRA, Basic Hydrography National Hydrographic School India in May 2000, Junior and Senior Staff Courses AFCSC Jaji in Nov 01 and Jul 06 respectively.

 

He was a participant of NDC Course 22 and was awarded fdc in Aug 14. As part of the Course, he took part in the MSc Strategic Studies programme, University of Ibadan from 2014 to 2015.

 

Ogalla served on board many ships including NNS AMBE, ARADU, LANA, EKUN, AGU, QUORRA, BEECROFT, DELTA and PATHFINDER. While on board NNS EKUN he took part in the ECOMOG Operations in Liberia in 1996. Also as the Base operations officer in NNS PATHFINDER, he was responsible for coordinating anti illegal bunkering operations as well the entire policing duties of the base. During the period there was a remarkable reduction in illegal activities in the maritime area within the base area of operations.

 

He also served as Instructor, CI and Comdt NNHS, SO 1 Survey and DD Instruments NNHO, ADCP, DD Hydro and DPR NHQ, as well as DS/ DARAS NDC and D Audit NASS NHQ. He is currently the DLL NHQ. During his cumulative 6-year tour of duty in NNHS, he taught geodesy, datum conversion, tidal predictions and analysis, satellite surveying, bathymetry, among others. As Comdt, he linked the School with Teledyn Marines, a reputable OEM in the US, which enabled the NN to procure several survey equipment from the company, leading to improvements in practical training. He was also instrumental to the review of the School’s curriculum to align with IHO requirements. During his tour of duty in the NNHO, the senior officer was instrumental to the localisation of tidal prediction and analysis. He participated in the FAO sponsored Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem survey in 2004 and provided professional inputs during the survey and production of the NNHO charts. During his tour of duty at the NDC, he contributed towards the improvement of the College research package and also led the 2018 participants research study tour to China and South Korea. As DLL he was responsible for collating and analysing previous NN Operations and activities with the objective of drawing lessons necessary for doctrinal and operational improvements.

 

Rear Admiral Ogalla is decorated with FSS, MSS, DSS and GSS. He is a member of the Nigerian Hydrographic Society, Nigerian Institute of Management, the International Earth Rotation Services and also a fellow of the Occupational Safety and Health Association of the UK. He is married to Mrs Ijeoma Ogalla and the marriage is blessed with 2 children. His hobbies include jogging, reading, listening and researching about science and nature.

 

 

 

Air Vice Marshal HASSAN BALA ABUBAKAR was born on 11 September 1970. He hails from Shanono Local Government Area in Kano State. He enlisted into the NAF as a member of NDA RC 39 and commissioned Pilot Offr on 19 Sep 92.

 

COURSES ATTENDED AND QUALIFICATIONS

 

The Air Officer Commanding, Logistics Command has attended several courses. Some of these include:

 

Bachelor of Science Degree from the Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna.

 

Ab initio and Basic Flying Training Courses at the 301 Flying Training School Kaduna.

 

Basic and Advance Airborne Courses at Nigerian Army Infantry Center and School Jaji.

 

Company Amphibious Operations Course at Nigerian Army Infantry Center and School in Calabar.

 

Junior and Senior Command and Staff Courses at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji and

 

National Defence Course at the Nasser Higher Military Academy, Cairo – Egypt.

 

Master’s Degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy from ABU Zaria.

 

PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS

 

The very senior officer has held several appointments, some of which are:

Admin Officer 16 Engineering Wing, 1 Engineering Group NAF Makurdi.

Officer Commanding Admin Services Flight/ Group Public Relations Officer, 97 Special Operations Group NAF Port Harcourt.

Officer Commanding Yellow Squadron – Air Force Military School Jos.

Admin Officer Primary Flying Training Wing – 301 FTS NAF Kaduna.

SO1 Admin 301 FTS NAF Kaduna.

Officer Commanding ‘B’ Squadron (Do 228) – 81 Air Maritime Group NAF Benin.

Team Leader MILOB Team Site 615 Mahagi (Ituri Brigade) MONUC.

Aviation Planning Officer, MONUC Air Operations Kinshasa, DRC.

Commanding Officer Base Services Wing 81 Air Maritime Group Nigerian Air force Benin.

Operations Officer Operational Conversion Unit 88 Military Airlift group Nigerian air Force Lagos.

Operations Officer 88 Military Airlift Group Ikeja Lagos. Commanding Officer 21 Wing 88 Military Airlift Group Lagos.

Group Safety Officer 88 Military Airlift Group Ikeja Lagos.

Fleet operation officer – 011Presidential Air Fleet.

Commander 011 Presidential Air Fleet.

Chief of Staff, Mobility Command.

Director of Policy, HQ NAF and lastly

Director of Operations, HQ NAF

Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command.

Currently the Chief of Standards and Operations, HQ NAF.

 

AWARDS/DECORATIONS

 

The senior officer has earned several awards and decorations, some of these include:

Distinguished Service Star.

Passed Staff Course (psc)

Fellow Defence College

Masters in International Affairs.

Member National Institute of Management.

Member Chartered Institute of Public Management.

Member Nigerian Institute of Safety Professionals.

 

MARITAL STATUS AND HOBBIES

 

Air Vice Marshal HB Abubakar is happily married with children and in his leisure time, the senior officer enjoys flying airplanes, reading, reflecting and keeping fit.

 

 

The newly-appointed National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, was born in Yola, Adamawa State, on 21 November, 1960.

 

He attended Aliyu Mustapha Primary School, Yola from 1966 to 1973 and Yelwa Government Secondary School, Yola from 1973-1977. Between 1978 and 1980, Mr Ribadu was at the College of Preliminary Studies, CPS, Yola, for his A-level studies.

 

In 1980, he gained admission to study law at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, graduating in 1983. He graduated from the Nigerian Law School and was called to the bar in 1984. He joined the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) immediately after his national youth service.

 

Mr Ribadu holds an LLM degree with emphasis on the jurisprudence of corruption in Nigeria from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. In 2008, he was at the Harvard Business School where he did a programme on the strategic management of law enforcement agencies.

 

The name Nuhu Ribadu has become a household name in Nigeria and beyond on account of his glorious public service record and personal integrity. A trained lawyer and fearless crime fighter, Mr Ribadu has carved a niche for himself as someone who is patriotic, passionate, honest, courageous and compassionate.

 

He is the pioneer Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the government commission tasked with countering corruption and fraud which he literally transformed into one of the most effective and renowned anti-graft agencies in modern history. Yet, his major contribution to the anti-corruption crusade was his selflessness, resilience and exemplary conduct in his spirited fight against the cankerworm.

 

With uncommon commitment and dedication to duty, Mr Ribadu worked assiduously to clean the Augean stable created by graft and fraud.

 

He courageously brought to book hundreds of fraudsters, scores of high profile looters and economic saboteurs in spite of temptation, booby traps and threats to life.

 

In three years, the EFCC, under his leadership, built the now most celebrated Crimes Training and Research Institute in the West African region. The agency also recorded over 200 criminal convictions under his leadership.

 

In acknowledgement of these rare achievements, Mr Ribadu was promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), in March 2007. The African Union (AU) put him on its advisory board on anti-corruption matters; and he was invited to join the advisory board of the Friends of the World Bank/UNODC initiative on Stolen Asset Recovery.

 

Mr Ribadu is a recipient of several awards as a police officer, prosecutor and chairman of the EFCC. He received the Inspector General of Police Awards in 1997, 1998 and 2000, and the Special Commendation of the President in 2005, for the successful prosecution of several advanced fee fraud cases, banking fraud and sundry economic crimes. He was also specially commended by the Accountant General of the Federation for successfully prosecuting some corrupt public servants in 1999.

 

Since 2004, notable newspapers and magazines in Nigeria have repeatedly voted Mr Ribadu as Man of the Year, in recognition of his outstanding achievements as a committed crusader against corruption and other related crimes.

 

In 2008, Mr Ribadu completed the senior executive course of the Nigeria Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies where he was conferred with the Membership of the National Institute, MNI. In June 2010, Mr Ribadu was awarded the Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) by the Babcock University, Ogun State, in recognition of his “resolute courage” as well as his “fierce stance against corruption in the face of sponsored disgrace and certain death that has resulted into positive changes and global acclaim hitherto considered impossible.”

 

In 2012, Mr Ribadu left a United Nations assignment in Afghanistan to take up a special inquest into government’s revenue from the oil sector, an assignment he handled with his characteristic passion and dexterity, turning in a report that has since become a reference point on reforming Nigeria’s oil industry.

 

In his quest for higher call to service, Mr Ribadu has since 2010 been involved in active politics. He was named NSA a few days after he was appointed the security adviser to the president.

 

 

President Bola Tinubu on Monday appointed DCG Adewale Bashir Adeniyi as the new acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

 

Adeniyi was appointed alongside new service chiefs that will take over the security affairs of Nigeria.

 

Daily Trust idemtifies seven things about the new man at the helm of Nigeria Customs Affairs.

 

1. Adeniyi joined the Nigeria Customs Service over 30yrs ago.

 

2. He holds a Bachelor of Science in International Relations from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in June 1987 and Master of Arts in Communication Science in November 2013 from the Universitaire Svizzera D’Italiana (USI) – Lugano—Switzerland.

 

3. He was Commandant of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College Gwagwalada, Abuja.

 

4. He was the longest serving National Public Relations Officer of Customs from June 2003 to May 2011.

 

5. He won the Comptroller-General of Customs Award for seizure of $8,065,612 million cash at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, January 2020.

 

6. He is currently Vice President of the Governing Council of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (FNIPR).

 

7. He was Conferred with the National Honour of Member of the Order of Federal Republic (MFR) by former President Muhammadu Buhari in October 2022.

 

Before his appointment as acting Comptroller, Adeniyi was a Deputy Comptroller General of Customs.

 

 

Born on Sept. 4, 1964 in Erinja, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, Egbetokun Olukayode Adeolu enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on March 3, 1990, as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police.

 

In 1999, he was appointed Chief Security Officer to Governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Tinubu.

 

He served as the Commander, Rapid Response Squad, Lagos, Squadron Commander, Mopol 5, Benin, Benin City, Officer-in-Charge, Anti-Fraud Unit, FCT Command, Abuja; Chief Superintendent of Police, Administration, Lagos State Command Head Quarters, Ikeja; Area Commander, Osogbo, Osun State Command; and Area Commander, Gusau, Zamfara State Command, amongst others.

 

A June 1987 graduate of Mathematics from University of Lagos (UNILAG), Egbetokun lectured Mathematics briefly at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, before his enlistment into the police.

 

His other academic qualifications include MSC Engineering Analysis (UNILAG), also from the University of Lagos, Akoka, 1996; Post-Graduate Diploma in Petroleum Economics from Delta State University, Abraka, 2000; and an MBA from Lagos State University, Ojo, 2004.

 

He also holds Postgraduate Diploma in Petroleum Economics from Delta State University, Abraka, and MBA from Lagos State University, Ojo.

 

He was promoted Commissioner of Police on 29/09/2020 and was deployed to Kwara State, Assistant Inspector General of Police in September 2022, deployed to Zone 7 (Abuja) and Deputy Inspector General of Police on March 29, 2023 & deployed to the FCID.