NewStats: 3,262,532 , 8,177,387 topics. Date: Monday, 02 June 2025 at 03:13 PM 4l5733

The Nigerian Army has discharged Private Ruth Ogunleye from service after she accused senior officer Colonel I.B. Abdulkareem of sexual harassment, News360 Nigeria reports.

The allegations, which surfaced in January 2024 on her TikTok page, named Abdulkareem, alongside Colonel G.S. Ogor and Brigadier General I.B. Solebo, as figures who had made her life difficult.

Ogunleye specifically accused Abdulkareem of repeated attempts to assault her, forcibly removing her from her residence, istering injections against her will, and confining her to a psychiatric hospital for rejecting his advances.

In response to these serious accusations, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, ordered an investigation.

On Tuesday, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, addressed journalists in Abuja, stating that a thorough review of evidence, testimonies, and facts had cleared Abdulkareem of any wrongdoing.

Consequently, the army decided to discharge Ogunleye from service.

He said, “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.

“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.

“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.”

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 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.”

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.

“This decision was made to safeguard her well-being and ensure that any actions taken by the Nigerian Army were informed by a comprehensive understanding of her condition, as advised by trained professionals.

“The medical evaluation confirmed that Ruth Ogunleye was suffering from a condition that made her medically vulnerable.”

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 comion 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.

“Instead, the Army prioritised her health, understanding that she was in no position to continue with military service. She was subsequently boarded and discharged from service.”

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.

“These payments were made on 14 August 2024 into her FCMB . Her Security Debarment Allowance for the period she served (5 years and 54 days) has also been paid. The decision to discharge her was made after she rejected an offer of medical treatment, either from the National Hospital or the Nigerian Army.”

https://news360ng.com/nigerian-army-discharges-female-soldier-exonerate-senior-officer-in-sexual-abuse-allegations/

It's well,God bless Nigeria.

There was no investigation.
The Nigerian army exonerated the accused because the victim allegedly has mental health problems.
Millions of Nigerians allegedly have "mental health" issues and are still functioning of the society.

In what universe does the mental health of a victim automatically makes the suspect innocent?

Their way of settling her
😂

ivolt:
There was no investigation.
The Nigerian army exonerated the accused because the victim has mental health problems.

In what universe is the mental health of a victim automatically makes the suspect innocent?

The testimony and evidence of a mentally certified impaired individual does not hold in any court .

ivolt:
There was no investigation.
The Nigerian army exonerated the accused because the victim has mental health problems.

In what universe is the mental health of a victim automatically makes the suspect innocent?

You typed this with 100% confidence and certainty

You were very much sure that no investigation was carried out


Seems you know more than the report cause i wouldnt wanna believe all these are mere assumptions

Better

Man-know-man kingdom has happened to her.

CyrusVI:



You typed this with 100% confidence and certainty

You were very much sure that no investigation was carried out


Seems you know more than the report cause i wouldnt wanna believe all these are mere assumptions

He might have skipped GST sessions that dealt with such fallacies in 100level. This is the result!

No diagnosis smh

One Nigeria
She became mad overnight!

DSS EFCC LAGBAJA AND EGBETOKUN SHOULD PROBE THIS INJUSTICES. THE ARMY CANNOT BE A JUDGE IN ITS OWN CONCEIT.

Obviously the caucus had to ship her out one way or the other

APCHaram:


The testimony and evidence of a mentally certified impaired individual does not hold in any court .

That's nonsense.
There are hundreds of mental health issues.
Very few of them preclude a witnesses' testimony from being taken.


Moreover, a court martial is not a law court, its primary role is to make the army
look good and justice secondary. And Ruth already committed a punishable offense by going public in their eyes.
Such issues are supposed to be treated hush-hush.

This army release repeated the ambiguos term "Medically vulnerable" to hide the
serious crime that have been committed.

When an officer become incompetent, the right thing to do is to discharge them
but the boss kept her in the force serially medicated for his own purpose.
A perfect patsy.

Thank God for her life. She's now free to be a civilian. She doesn't know what God did to her

She's lucky. Time to start a new life

They don give am psychic medicine to run her mad. The same thing Femi Kayode was trying this on Chinwendu

Go to court

As expected.

ivolt:
There was no investigation.
The Nigerian army exonerated the accused because the victim allegedly has mental health problems.
Millions of Nigerians have "mental health" issues and are still functioning of the society.

In what universe is the mental health of a victim automatically makes the suspect innocent?

so U really believe the story for Nigeria, dey play

CyrusVI:



You typed this with 100% confidence and certainty

You were very much sure that no investigation was carried out


Seems you know more than the report cause i wouldnt wanna believe all these are mere assumptions

you should just ignore him he's not well

Don't expect the army to discharge a Colonel over a private.. For this naija?

Did this include female military officers and civilian welfare officers?

A big relief for her.. atleast she will have time to heal and re-integrate into the society. Some jobs are not for the weak/fragile,

OgaTheTop2:
Don't expect the army to discharge a Colonel over a private.. For this naija?

She wanted to leave the job.. her wish has been granted. It's a win situation for her from the look of things.

flokii:


She wanted to leave the job.. her wish has been granted. It's a win situation for her from the look of things.

If this is so, then why did she apply for the job in the first place?

OgaTheTop2:
If this is so, then why did she apply for the job in the first place?

Several reasons.. might be out of ion for uniform lifestyle, bragging rights of Army personnel or out of patriotism.
Only the lady in question can tell the world why she ed. I'm sure it was for good reason.

I had trust this private more than Nigerian army and officers who were alleged to have committed the sexual harassment.

I hope Nigerian army did proper investigation

This might discourage more women to come forward with cases of abuse

So many questions on my mind but I am glad both parties came to a reasonable settlement. The young lady should face her life.

ivolt:
There was no investigation.
The Nigerian army exonerated the accused because the victim allegedly has mental health problems.
Millions of Nigerians have "mental health" issues and are still functioning of the society.

In what universe is the mental health of a victim automatically makes the suspect innocent?

You sound like someone needing a mental evaluation