Nigerian Army Discharges Female Soldier Who Accused Her Superior Of Sexual Assault

The Nigerian Army has discharged Private Ruth Ogunleye following her allegations of sexual harassment against Colonel I.B. Abdulkareem, a senior officer in the military.

The decision comes after Ogunleye publicly accused Abdulkareem, along with Colonel G.S. Ogor and Brigadier General I.B. Solebo, of creating a hostile environment for her through various forms of intimidation. In a series of posts on her TikTok account, Ogunleyeruthsavage1, Ogunleye said that Colonel Abdulkareem made repeated sexual advances towards her, administered injections without her consent, forcibly evicted her from her residence, and confined her to a psychiatric facility for several months after she rejected his advances.

In response to the serious allegations, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, ordered a comprehensive investigation. Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, addressed the media in Abuja, confirming that after a thorough review of testimonies and evidence, the army found no grounds to substantiate Ogunleye’s claims against Colonel Abdulkareem.

According to Nwachukwu, “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.”

He noted that the investigation was conducted in accordance with established protocols, with every effort made to ensure a fair and impartial process.
“It is crucial to assert that the Nigerian Army, in its bid to ensure justice and transparency, conducted an exhaustive review of the facts, testimonies, and evidence presented. Nwachukwu explained that 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 definitive and based on an objective evaluation of the available information.