The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-General Taoreed Lagbaja, on Sunday, reportedly spoke with President Bola Tinubu and seized the opportunity to brief him on his health status.
According to a source at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), the President was excited to hear the voice of his army chief and prayed for his quick recovery.
This is as the Army Headquarters has dismissed the trending death rumours about Lagbaja, describing it as fake news.
The Nigerian Army had repeatedly dismissed reports claiming that the Army chief had died.
A source at DHQ said: “I can tell you, therefore, that the rumour about his death is not correct. This information is authentic and as such, rubbishes the ungodly rumour about his death. He is recuperating and not dead”.
Earlier, the Director, Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu dispelled insinuation that the Nigerian Army was running on auto pilot since the COAS left the country for medical investigation abroad.
He admitted that the COAS travelled for a medical check up abroad, contrary to the initial claim that he was on leave and that as a public officer, he was entitled to it.
He also refuted insinuations from some members of the public that the result of a promotion examinations that was supposed to have been made public was being held up because of the absence of the COAS.