[News] “He had an unblemished career” – Nigerian Army denies late Major Udiandeye was facing court martial before he committed suicide

The Nigerian Army has denied report that late Major Udiandeye Jeremiah Udiadenye committed suicide because he was being court martialed.

The former Battalion Commanding Officer who led the fight against Boko Haram in the North East, took his life on Monday, May 17, 2022.

Earlier reports had claimed the Major killed himself on the premises of the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna, with his service pistol less than 72 hours to the verdict of a court-martial trying him for alleged military infractions during the war.

However, the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Wednesday, June 22, said the report was not true, adding that Udiandeye had an unblemished career and was never court martialed before his demise.

“The Nigerian Army (NA) has observed an obnoxious insinuation making the rounds on social media, alleging that late Major Udiandeye Jeremiah Udiadenye, terminated his life through suicide, because he was being interrogated or investigated by a military court martial in 1 Division, Kaduna,” the statement read.

“Having lost one of its finest officers, the authorities of the Nigerian Army feel deeply concerned that unscrupulous persons under whatever guise would employ such sad occurrence to malign their own Army. Nevertheless, for the sake of posterity, it needs be mentioned that the late senior officer had an unblemished career in the military and never needed to face any disciplinary process.

“Until his demise, he was the Commanding Officer of 167 Special Forces Battalion at Giri in the FCT from where he led special operations to various commands including 1 Division.

“An appropriate Board of Inquiry has been instituted to ascertain what led to the tragic incident and its report will guide the NA on subsequent actions and measures to take to forestall a recurrence.

“The NA belongs to the Nigerian people and remains obligated to work along established guidelines as a responsible corporate entity. The general public is urged to disregard the ignorant piece making the rounds please.”