Chief of Army Staff Lt-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja has reportedly spoken with President Bola Tinubu on the phone and briefed him on his health status.
A source at the Defence Headquarters said Tinubu was excited to hear the voice of the army chief and prayed for his quick recovery, reports ThisDay.
The source was quoted as saying Lagbaja “held a clear conversation with the president and he was in high spirit. The president was very happy and prayed fervently for his quick recovery.”
Jackson Ude, former director of strategy and communication to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, earlier posted on social media that Lagbaja died of cancer.
“The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has died. Lagbaja died in an undisclosed hospital overseas nearly 48hrs ago from a stage three Cancer, according to a senior Government official.
“The death of the Chief of Army staff has been kept secret because of intense lobbying by some Generals who want to take the position
“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,” he wrote.
In response to the post on X, the Nigerian Army labelled it as fake news.
Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu on Saturday confirmed Lagbaja was receiving treatment abroad while on leave.
Nwachukwu did not state the nature of the ailment.
