The Nigerian Army has discharged Private Ruth Ogunleye from service following allegations she made against senior officers, including Colonel I.B Abdulkareem, accusing them of sexual harassment and misconduct.
In January 2024, Ogunleye took to her TikTok page, @Ogunleyeruthsavage1, to accuse Colonel I.B Abdulkareem, Colonel G.S Ogor, and Brigadier General I.B Solebo of making her life unbearable. She alleged that Abdulkareem made repeated attempts to assault her, administered injections against her will, forcibly removed her from her residence, and confined her to a psychiatric hospital for several months after she rejected his sexual advances.
In response to these serious accusations, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, ordered a thorough investigation. 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.
“Upon receipt of her initial complaint, which included allegations of sexual 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,” Nwachukwu said.
He further explained that the investigation concluded that Colonel I.B Abdulkareem did not commit the offence of sexual harassment as alleged by Ogunleye, adding that the findings were definitive and based on an objective evaluation of the available information.
In addition to addressing the allegations, Nwachukwu revealed that Ogunleye had been recommended for discharge on medical grounds since 2022. However, the Nigerian Army, showing sympathy, provided her with the best possible medical treatment before discharging her into civilian life.
“While the Army was addressing the allegations of sexual 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,” he said.
According to Nwachukwu, medical reports from the National Hospital in Abuja confirmed that Ogunleye was suffering from a condition that made her medically vulnerable. Consequently, the Nigerian Army decided to discharge her on medical grounds instead of pursuing disciplinary action for her acts of indiscipline and misconduct.
Despite not serving the requisite number of years to qualify for a full pension, Ogunleye has been discharged with a 50 per cent monthly pension for life, along with other benefits. “She has also been paid her Terminal Leave Allowance, Terminal Packing Allowance, as well as her contributions to the Nigerian Army Welfare Insurance Scheme and Benevolent Fund,” Nwachukwu noted.
The decision to discharge Ogunleye was made after she declined offers of medical treatment from both the National Hospital and the Nigerian Army.