Men Against Rape Seek Clarity On Female Soldier’s Sexual Harassment Case

Civil rights advocacy group, MARF is seeking clarity in the rape controversy that led to the exit of Private Ruth Ogunleye from the Nigerian Army

Abuja, September 26, 2024 – The Men Against Rape Foundation (MARF) has raised concerns over the Nigerian Army’s handling of the case involving Private Ruth Ogunleye, a female soldier who accused senior officers of sexual harassment. MARF is calling for transparency and public disclosure of the investigation that led to Ogunleye’s discharge from the Army, a decision the military attributed to mental health concerns.

Private Ogunleye had earlier accused Colonel I.B Abdulkareem and other officers of making her life unbearable after she allegedly rejected Abdulkareem’s advances. Despite these allegations, the Army exonerated the accused officer and claimed that Ogunleye’s discharge was due to mental health reasons, a claim that she refutes, insisting that she voluntarily resigned.

In an electronic statement signed by MARF’s Executive Director, Dr. Lemmy Ughegbe and Director of Strategic Development, Dr. Augustine Eigbe, the Foundation called on the Army to publish the full findings of its investigation into Ogunleye’s claims. The foundation emphasised the importance of transparency to ensure accountability and restore public confidence in the process.

“It is deeply troubling that the Nigerian Army has not made public the investigative findings that led to the exoneration of Colonel Abdulkareem and the discharge of Private Ogunleye. In the interest of justice, we demand that the Army discloses the full report and provides a clear explanation of how it arrived at its decision,” the statement read.

The Foundation also questioned the Army’s justification for discharging Private Ogunleye on medical grounds, particularly as she has consistently maintained that she resigned of her own volition following the rape saga. MARF called for an independent review of the investigation, stressing that such oversight is necessary to ensure that Ogunleye’s rights were not violated.

MARF also urged the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy, to clarify her role in Ogunleye’s discharge, as the former soldier mentioned the minister’s involvement in the resignation process.

“The Nigerian Army must ensure that Private Ogunleye’s rights have been fully protected and that due process was followed throughout the investigation,” the statement added. “We stand with all survivors of sexual harassment and gender-based violence, and we will continue to advocate for justice and accountability.”

MARF concluded by reaffirming its commitment to monitoring the case closely, stating that failure to address these concerns would undermine the principles of fairness and justice in Nigeria’s institutions.

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