Former Nigerian soldier, Private Ruth Ogunleye, has publicly called on the Nigerian Army to release the results of its investigation into her allegations of sexual harassment by senior officers. Ogunleye initially made the accusations against Colonel I.B. Abdulkareem, Colonel G.S. Ogor, and Brigadier General I.B. Solebo, alleging harassment and wrongful confinement after she rejected sexual advances.
In response, the Nigerian Army’s Director of Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, stated that after a thorough investigation, the allegations against Abdulkareem were found to be untrue. He noted that medical evaluations revealed Ogunleye had a condition that made her medically vulnerable, leading to her discharge from service.
However, Ogunleye has expressed dissatisfaction with the Army’s response. Through her TikTok page, she requested that the Army publicly share the full details of the investigation. She also addressed the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy, asking her to clarify the circumstances surrounding her discharge. Ogunleye alleged that Kennedy had intervened on her behalf, requesting her voluntary resignation and later negotiating her discharge, which was ultimately categorized as medical.
Ogunleye remains adamant that the Army’s decision to discharge her should be more transparent, asking for the investigation’s findings to be posted on the Army’s social media platforms to provide clarity and transparency on the matter.
