Azubuike Ihejirika, (born 13 February 1956) is a retired

Nigerian Army The Nigerian Army (NA) is the land force of the Nigerian Armed Forces. It is governed by the Nigerian Army Council (NAC). The Chief of Army Staff is the highest ranking military officer of the Nigerian Army. History Formation The Nigerian ...

Lieutenant general Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...

and former Chief of Army Staff.

Early life and education

Ihejirika was born on February 13, 1956, in

Isuikwuato Isuikwuato is a local government area in Abia State in southeastern Nigeria. The name Isu-Ikwu-Ato translates from Igbo as 'three Isu families or lineage' and refers to the three lineages descended from the Isu people, in what is now a local gove ...

Local Government Area of Abia State, Southeastern Nigeria. He was educated at Williams Memorial High School in Afugiri, a town in Umuahia North, Abia State where he obtained a London General Certificate in 1975, as well as the West African Senior School Certificate Examination with a grade I distinction. He is a member of the 18th Regular Combatant Course of the

Nigerian Defence Academy The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) is a military university based in Kaduna, Nigeria that trains officer cadets for commissioning into one of the three services of the Nigerian Armed Forces: the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force. The duration of ...

Kaduna Kaduna is the capital city of Kaduna State, and the former political capital of Northern Nigeria. It is located in north-western Nigeria, on the Kaduna River. It is a trade Centre and a major transportation hub as the gateway to northern Nige ...

and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in December 1977 into the Corps of Nigerian Army Engineers (NAE). Ihejirika holds a BSc (Hons) in Quantity Survey from the

Ahmadu Bello University Ahmadu Bello University Zaria is a federal government research university in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. ABU was founded on 4 October 1962, as the pioneer university in Northern Nigeria. It was founded and named after the Sardauna of Sokoto, A ...

, Zaria and is an alumnus of military institutions such as the Command and Staff College, Jajii and the National War College.

Military career

Ihejirika was on the Directing Staff at the Command and Staff College, Jajii and was Principal Staff Officer at the Defence and Army Headquarters. He also held various command appointments including: *Commander 41 Division Engineers *Acting General Officer Commanding, 1 Division * General Officer Commanding, 81 Division Ihejirika was appointed Chief of Army Staff (COAS) on 8 September 2010, by President

Goodluck Jonathan Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan (born 20 November 1957)Lawson Heyford, ''The Source'' (Lagos), 11 December 2006. is a Nigerian politician who served as the President of Nigeria from 2010 to 2015. He lost the 2015 presidential election to fo ...

. He served as COAS for 4 years until his retirement in January 2014.

Life after military

After Ihejirika retired as the Chief of Army Staff in January 2014, he returned to his hometown

where he was honored with a chieftaincy title, "Dike Abia" (in Igbo), the "Warrior of Abia" (in British English). "I thought they will give me a chieftaincy title but they made me a king. I therefore dedicate this title to my commanders and soldiers who showed strength in the midst of daunting challenges", he said.

Boko Haram sponsorship accusation

In August 2014, it was reported that Ihejirika was among the sponsors of the deadly Islamic sect Boko Haram alongside Senator

Ali Modu Sheriff Ali Modu Sheriff (born 1956) is a Nigerian politician. He is Borno State's first governor to serve two consecutive terms (2003–2011). Though Sheriff had held two elected offices as a member of All Nigeria People's Party, he would later join ...

, the former Executive Governor of Borno State,

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

. The allegation was made by the Australian negotiator Stephen Davis who has been working with the Nigerian Security Agencies in the rescue of the abducted Chibok School Girls. The State Security Service absolved Ihejirika of claims that he was a major financier of Boko Haram and said that he was proved innocent of the allegation leveled against him by Davis.

Awards

Ihejirika has won several awards and honours, among others are; * Commander of the Federal Republic, CFR awarded by

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan (born 20 November 1957)Lawson Heyford, ''The Source'' (Lagos), 11 December 2006. is a Nigerian politician who served as the President of Nigeria from 2010 to 2015. He lost the 2015 presidential election to ...

, the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria *The Forces Service Star (FSS) awarded by the

*Meritorious Service Star (MSS) awarded by the

. *Distinguished Service Star (DSS)awarded by the

. *Grand Service Star (GSS)awarded by the

. * Passed Staff College Dagger (psc(+))awarded by the

Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji The Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji is a training facility for the Nigerian Armed Forces, including the army, air force and navy. It is near the village of Jaji, Nigeria, about northeast of Kaduna in the Igabi Local Government Area ...

. *Fellow National War College (FOC)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ihejirika, Azubuike Chiefs of Army Staff (Nigeria) Nigerian military personnel Nigerian Army personnel 1956 births People from Abia State People from Umuahia Living people Nigerian generals Nigerian Defence Academy alumni Instructors at the Nigerian Armed Forces Command and Staff College Ahmadu Bello University alumni