Those familiar with the matter told Premium Times that the incident happened at about 10:30p.m Tuesday as the top officer was walking to his residence inside the NAFRC barracks in Lagos.

"The general was trekking to his apartment inside the Barracks when he was hit and knocked down by the drunk soldier.” a source told the publication 

“The soldier also resides inside the barracks and was seen driving recklessly before hitting the senior officer."

It was gathered that the General was rushed to the NAFRC Medical Centre after the incident where he was confirmed dead.

The Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre where Brigadier General James served until his death is a Tri-service institution saddled with the training of military personnel in one vocation or the other before retiring into civil life.

The objective of the Centre, the defence headquarters says, is to assist retiring military personnel in settling into civil life with ease. At inception, the centre was known as the Nigerian Army Resettlement Centre. A change of name became necessary after other sister military services became involved in its operations and service.