The Nigerian Army has discharged Private Ruth Ogunleye from service after she accused I.B Abdulkareem, a senior officer, of sexual harassment in January.

Onyeama Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, said this at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.

Nwachukwu also said a review of the evidence and testimonies presented in the course of the Army’s investigation concluded that Abdulkareem had not committed any of the offences.

“Upon receipt of her complaint, which included allegations of sexual harassment, the Nigerian Army promptly referred the matter to the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police for a thorough investigation,” PUNCH quoted Nwachukwu on Tuesday.

“The investigation adhered to established protocols, ensuring a fair and impartial process. Based on an objective evaluation of the facts, testimonies, and evidence, Colonel I.B. Abdulkareem was found not guilty of the allegations brought forward by ex-Private Ruth Ogunleye.”

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Nwachukwu said Ogunleye’s conduct, both online and offline, may have been influenced by deteriorating mental health. He cited an assessment by the Nigerian Army Medical Corps.

Although he did not disclose specific details, he indicated that the army’s medical team had raised concerns about her mental well-being.

“Consequently, the Nigerian Army referred ex-Private Ogunleye to the National Hospital in Abuja for further evaluation, following earlier assessments that suggested potential mental health concerns. This step was taken to ensure her well-being and to inform any actions taken by the army,” Nwachukwu explained.

According to Nwachukwu, the military chose not to pursue disciplinary action against Ogunleye. Instead, she was discharged from service on medical grounds, with provisions made for her long-term financial support.

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“Even though ex-Private Ruth did not meet the requisite service years to qualify for a pension, she will still receive a 50% monthly pension for life due to her 50% disability claim,” Nwachukwu said.

He added that all her terminal benefits, including her contributions to the Nigerian Army Welfare Insurance Scheme and Benevolent Fund, had been paid into her bank account on August 14.

Ogunleye had accused Abdulkareem of multiple instances of sexual harassment in January. She also mentioned other senior officers including G.S. Ogor and I.B. Solebo, saying they made her life in the military unbearable.

She used @Ogunleyeruthsavage1, her TikTok account, to share her claims. Ogunleye accused Abdulkareem of repeatedly harassing her; she said he attempted to inject her with unknown substances and forcibly removed her from her residence. She also claimed that the colonel had her admitted to a psychiatric hospital when she refused his advances.

“In 2022, I was posted to Cantonment Medical Centre, Ojo, where I met Colonel I.B Abdulkareem. He requested sex from me, and I refused,” Ogunleye said in her video.

“Since then, this man has been my nightmare, threatening to dismiss me and sending boys to my house. I have evidence and witnesses to support my claims.”

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She also said that Abdulkareem stigmatised her by falsely claiming she had a mental illness whenever senior officers intervened on her behalf.

“One day, he locked me up and almost raped me. When he was caught, he said I had a mental illness,” she added.

Ogunleye’s claims travelled across social media platforms and drew attention to sexual harassment claims within the military.
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