The Nigerian Army has discharged Private Ruth Ogunleye following her public accusations of sexual harassment against senior officers, including Colonel I.B. Abdulkareem. Ogunleye initially made her allegations in January 2024 through her TikTok account, claiming that Abdulkareem, alongside Colonel G.S. Ogor and Brigadier General I.B. Solebo, had subjected her to severe mistreatment.
In her accusations, Ogunleye alleged that Abdulkareem attempted sexual assault, administered injections against her will, forcibly evicted her from her residence, and detained her in a psychiatric hospital after she rejected his advances. These claims prompted the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, to order a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
During a press briefing in Abuja, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, shared the findings of the investigation. “Upon receipt of her complaint, the Nigerian Army referred the matter to the Military Police for a thorough investigation. The investigation concluded that Colonel I.B. Abdulkareem did not commit the alleged offences,” he stated.
Nwachukwu emphasized that the investigation followed established protocols to ensure fairness. However, it also revealed concerns regarding Ogunleye’s mental health. “Medical evaluations at the National Hospital in Abuja confirmed that Ogunleye was suffering from a condition that made her medically vulnerable,” he added.
Despite a previous recommendation for her discharge on medical grounds in 2022, the Army extended care to Ogunleye before ultimately discharging her. Concerns about her online and offline conduct led the Army to bypass disciplinary actions and discharge her on medical grounds.
While Ogunleye will not receive full pension entitlements due to her discharge, the Army has awarded her a 50% monthly pension for life along with other benefits.