Fresh crisis has erupted within the Nigerian Legion following the resignation of key members of the management team appointed by National Chairman, Grace Morenike Henry, in July 2025 to drive the objectives and reform agenda of the organisation.
The Nigerian Legion is a statutory, non-profit veterans’ organization founded in 1964 (Act No. 37 of 1988) to promote the welfare of ex-servicemen and their families. The “By Military, For Veterans” body supports the reintegration of veterans into civilian life, fostering camaraderie, and organizing the annual [Armed Forces Remembrance and Celebration Day] on January 15. Apart from working to protect the welfare and dignity of ex-servicemen, it alsoworks for the interest of widows and dependants of fallen heroes.
Those who have resigned from the management of the Nigerian Legion include the Chief of Staff, Col. C.O. Funmilayo (rtd); Director of Legal Affairs, Rear Admiral Jamila Malafa (rtd); Director of Finance, Col. I.E. Ituen (rtd); Director of Corporate Affairs, Vet Rosemary John-Oduone; and the latest to exit, the Special Adviser on Media and Spokesman of the Nigerian Legion, PO Abdul Lauya (rtd).
The resignations have intensified concerns over leadership stability and internal administration within the country’s statutory veterans’ body.
The affected officials were among the prominent management team unveiled shortly after Henry emerged as the first retired non-commissioned officer to lead the Nigerian Legion.
The management team announced in July 2025 included Rear Admiral Jamila Malafa (rtd) as Director of Legal Affairs; Col. C.O. Funmilayo (rtd) as Chief of Staff; Col. I.E. Ituen (rtd) as Director of Finance; Vet Rosemary John-Oduone as Director of Corporate Affairs; Chief Aliyu Umar (rtd) as Senior Special Adviser to the Chairman and AWO Grace Pethon (rtd) representing the Women Auxiliary.
Others are AWO Kayode Oyinloye (rtd) as Cashier; PO Abdul Lauya as Special Adviser on Media and Legion Spokesman; MWO Musa Asuba Shabanda (rtd) as Chief Clerk; MWO Abdullahi Ngaskie (rtd) as Procurement and Logistics Officer; and Maj Y.B. Isah (rtd) as Secretary General.
At the time of their appointment, many veterans viewed the team as a blend of military experience, administrative competence and professional diversity capable of repositioning the Legion.
However, insiders alleged that disagreements over leadership style, administrative control and operational transparency gradually created tension within the national headquarters.
Sources within the organisation claimed that some of the departing officials became uncomfortable with what they described as lack of inclusive decision-making.
Observers said the wave of resignations has raised fears about possible cracks within the leadership structure of the Legion at a period when veterans across the country are demanding stronger welfare programmes and accountability.
Particular attention has focused on the resignation of Rear Admiral Jamila Malafa (rtd), one of Nigeria’s most respected retired female senior military officers.
Malafa made history as the first female Rear Admiral from Northern Nigeria before retiring from the Nigerian Navy in 2019.
She also served at the International Criminal Court in The Hague and currently serves as a National Commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Her resignation is being interpreted by many within the veterans’ community as a significant setback to the reform expectations that greeted the current administration.
Col. C.O. Funmilayo (rtd), a seasoned Armoured Corps officer and Nigerian Defence Academy graduate, was reportedly brought into the administration to provide institutional guidance and strategic coordination.
Vet Rosemary John-Oduone, a retired member of the Nigerian Army Provost Corps and former Commissioner for Women Affairs in Bayelsa State, was also considered one of the administration’s influential figures.
As Director of Corporate Affairs, her office supervised the production and distribution of Armed Forces Remembrance Day emblems nationwide, a programme regarded as one of the Legion’s major public engagements and funding channels.
Sources alleged that disagreements later emerged over the administration and control of emblem-related operations.
The resignation of PO Abdul Lauya (rtd), the Legion’s spokesman and Special Adviser on Media, has further widened public attention on the crisis.
Lauya is a respected retired naval communicator and journalist who won several awards during his service in the Nigerian Navy, including the Chief of Naval Staff Award for Excellence during the Navy’s Golden Jubilee celebration in 2005.
He later served as Director of Media for a senatorial campaign in 2018 before working as Legislative Aide and Senior Special Assistant on Media at the National Assembly between 2019 and 2023.
Amid the growing leadership vacuum, attention has also shifted to Chief Aliyu Umar (rtd), the Senior Special Adviser to the National Chairman, who remains one of the few key figures still serving within the current administration.
Within the veterans’ community, Chief Umar is widely regarded as one of the most respected voices among ex-servicemen and a stabilising figure in the Legion’s leadership structure.
Observers say his continued presence is increasingly being viewed as one of the last critical cords holding the current administration together amid mounting internal tensions and high-profile exits.
Analysts say the resignation of senior officials with strong military, legal, administrative and media backgrounds may deepen concerns about cohesion within the Legion leadership.
Stakeholders warn that unresolved internal disputes could weaken confidence in the institution and undermine efforts aimed at improving veterans’ welfare across the country.
As of the time of filing this report, the national leadership of the Nigerian Legion had not issued any official response regarding the resignations or allegations surrounding the crisis.
Written with reports from Eye Reporters
