Female Soldier Who Accused Nigerian Army Officer Of Sexual Harrassment Discharged

The Nigerian Army has officially discharged Private Ruth Ogunleye following her accusations of sexual harassment against a senior officer, Colonel I.B Abdulkareem.

Ogunleye made these allegations public in January 2024 through her TikTok page, accusing Abdulkareem, along with Colonel G.S Ogor and Brigadier General I.B Solebo, of mistreating her.

In her claims, Ogunleye stated that Colonel Abdulkareem made several attempts to assault her, forced her to take injections, and had her confined to a psychiatric hospital when she resisted his advances.

Responding to these serious allegations, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, immediately ordered an investigation to uncover the truth.

During a press briefing in Abuja, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, announced that after a detailed investigation, the Army found no evidence supporting Ogunleye’s claims.

“The Nigerian Army took immediate action when the allegations were received,” Nwachukwu stated. “The case was referred to the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police, who conducted a thorough investigation, ensuring fairness throughout the process. The investigation concluded that Colonel I.B Abdulkareem did not commit the offence of sexual harassment as alleged by ex-Private Ruth Ogunleye. The findings were based on an objective evaluation of the facts, testimonies, and evidence presented.”

Nwachukwu also mentioned that Ogunleye had been recommended for discharge on medical grounds since 2022, but the Army had provided medical support until her recent discharge. He highlighted concerns about Ogunleye’s conduct and mental health during the investigation.

“While addressing the sexual harassment allegations, further concerns regarding Ogunleye’s conduct surfaced. Her behaviour raised questions about her mental health and emotional stability,” Nwachukwu said. “The Nigerian Army referred her for medical evaluation, which confirmed she was suffering from a condition that made her medically vulnerable.”

Based on the medical report and advice from the Nigerian Army Medical Corps, the Army decided to discharge Ogunleye, prioritizing her health over disciplinary actions. Despite not serving the required 10 years to qualify for a pension, Ogunleye was granted a 50 per cent disability pension for life.

“These payments, including her Terminal Leave Allowance and contributions to the Nigerian Army Welfare Insurance Scheme, were made on 14 August 2024,” Nwachukwu confirmed. He also added that Ogunleye’s Security Debarment Allowance for her five years and 54 days of service was paid, despite her rejecting offers for further medical treatment from the National Hospital or the Nigerian Army.

Ogunleye’s discharge marks the conclusion of her time with the Nigerian Army, following a lengthy investigation and medical evaluation.

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