S3xual Harassment: Army Discharges Female Soldier, Exonerates Officer

 

An officer of the Nigerian army accused of s3xual harassment has been found innocent.

 

This is as the Nigerian Army discharged the female soldier, Private Ruth Ogunleye, from service who made the accusation against the senior officer, Colonel I.B Abdulkareem.

 

Recall that in January 2024, Ogunleye made the accusations via her TikTok page, @Ogunleyeruthsavage1, where she alleged that Colonel I.B Abdulkareem, Colonel G.S Ogor, and Brigadier General I.B Solebo had made her life unbearable.

 

She specifically accused Abdulkareem of making repeated attempts to assault her, administering injections against her will, forcibly removing her from her residence, and confining her to a psychiatric hospital for several months after she rejected his s3xual advances.

 

Following these allegations, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, ordered a thorough investigation into the matter.

 

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, the Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, stated that after an exhaustive review of the facts, testimonies, and evidence presented, it was determined that Abdulkareem did not commit the offences alleged by Ogunleye.

 

He said, “Upon receipt of her initial complaint, which included allegations of s3xual harassment, the Nigerian Army took immediate action. The matter was referred to the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police, who were tasked with conducting a thorough investigation into the veracity of her claims. The investigation was conducted in accordance with established protocols, with every effort made to ensure a fair and impartial process.

 

Onyema also revealed that Ogunleye had been recommended for discharge on medical grounds since 2022, but the Nigerian Army, showing sympathy, provided her with the best possible medical treatment before discharging her into civilian life.

 

He added, “While the Army was addressing the allegations of s3xual harassment, further concerns regarding Ruth Ogunleye’s conduct came to light. Her behaviour, both online and offline, raised questions about her deteriorating mental health and emotional stability.”

 

Onyema stated that medical reports following an evaluation at the National Hospital in Abuja indicated that Ogunleye was suffering from a condition that rendered her medically vulnerable.

 

He said, “Consequently, the Nigerian Army referred ex-Private Ruth Ogunleye for medical evaluation at the National Hospital in Abuja, following earlier assessments by the Nigerian Army Medical Corps that suggested potential mental health concerns.

 

Onyema said that, based on her medical condition, the Army had decided not to pursue disciplinary action against Ogunleye.

 

Instead, she was discharged from service on medical grounds.

 

He added, “In light of this, the Army, though fully capable of proceeding with disciplinary action for her acts of indiscipline and misconduct, opted to exercise compassion and leniency. Based on the medical report from the National Hospital and advice from the Nigerian Army Medical Corps, the decision was made to shelve any disciplinary procedures that could have been taken against her.

 

Onyema further stated that although Ogunleye was not entitled to a pension, she was discharged with a 50 per cent monthly pension for life, among other benefits.

 

He said, “Despite ex-Private Ruth not serving the requisite number of years to qualify for a pension (10 years), she has nonetheless been discharged from the Nigerian Army with a 50 per cent disability claim, meaning she will receive a 50 per cent monthly pension for life. She has also been paid her Terminal Leave Allowance and Terminal Packing Allowance, as well as her contributions to the Nigerian Army Welfare Insurance Scheme and Benevolent Fund.