Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede has been named Acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS) by President Bola Tinubu.

Oluyede will fill the role until Lt. Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, the formal Chief of Army Staff, returns, according to a statement released on Wednesday by Tinubu’s media adviser Bayo Onanuga.

The COAS was on leave, according to a statement sent by Army spokesman Onyema Nwachukwu on October 20 in response to rumors of Lagbaja’s passing.

Lagbaja is still the official Chief of Army Staff, according to Onanuga.

He claimed that prior to his appointment, Oluyede “was the 56th Commander of the Nigerian Army’s elite Infantry Corps, based in Jaji, Kaduna.”

Both Lagbaja and Oluyede, both 56, were classmates in the 39th Regular Course.

Since being commissioned as an officer, Oluyede has occupied numerous positions of authority. He held the positions of Commandant Amphibious Training School, Staff Officer Guards Brigade, Company Commander at 177 Guards Battalion, and Platoon Commander and adjutant at 65 Battalion.

Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi, the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) Mission in Liberia, and Operation HADIN KAI in the North East theater of operations, where he led 27 Task Force Brigade, were among the missions in which General Oluyede took part.

Oluyede has received numerous accolades for his deserving work in a variety of operational domains. These consist of the Grand Service Star, the Corps Medal of Honor, the Passing the Staff Course, and National Institute membership.

The Field Command Medal and the Field Command Medal of Honor and the Field Training Medal.

The prestigious Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award was also given to Oluyede. He has three kids and is married.