Private Ruth Ogunleye has been discharged from the Nigerian Army following her allegations of sexual harassment against Colonel I.B. Abdulkareem, a senior officer in the military.
The discharge comes after Ogunleye publicly accused Abdulkareem, along with Colonel G.S. Ogor and Brigadier General I.B. Solebo, of subjecting her to various forms of intimidation.
Ogunleye took to her TikTok account, @Ogunleyeruthsavage1, to share her experiences, claiming that Colonel Abdulkareem made persistent sexual advances towards her. She further alleged that Abdulkareem administered injections without her consent, forcibly evicted her from her residence, and confined her to a psychiatric facility for several months after she refused his advances.
In response to these serious allegations, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, ordered a thorough investigation into the matter. However, the investigation, conducted by the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police, did not substantiate Ogunleye’s claims.
Addressing the media, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, confirmed that after an exhaustive review of testimonies and evidence, there was no basis to support Ogunleye’s accusations against Colonel Abdulkareem. He emphasized that the investigation was carried out according to established military protocols, ensuring fairness and impartiality throughout the process.
Nwachukwu stated, “The Nigerian Army, in its bid to ensure justice and transparency, conducted an exhaustive review of the facts, testimonies, and evidence presented.” He added that the findings clearly indicated that Colonel Abdulkareem did not engage in the acts of sexual harassment as alleged by Ogunleye.
It was also revealed that Ogunleye had been recommended for discharge on medical grounds since 2022 due to a condition that rendered her medically vulnerable. The Army, however, delayed her discharge to provide her with medical care before officially releasing her from service. Medical evaluations at the National Hospital in Abuja confirmed that Ogunleye was suffering from a condition affecting her mental health.
Given her medical situation, the Army opted not to pursue disciplinary action against Ogunleye for acts of indiscipline. Instead, they prioritized her health and well-being, choosing to discharge her on medical grounds rather than initiating any punitive measures. Nwachukwu noted that this decision was informed by medical reports from both the National Hospital and the Nigerian Army Medical Corps.
“In light of her medical condition, the Army chose to exercise compassion and leniency. While disciplinary action could have been taken, the focus was on ensuring her health and safety,” Nwachukwu concluded.