Private Ruth Ogunleye, a former soldier, has called on the Nigerian Army to make public the findings of its investigation into her claims of sexual harassment against senior officers.
In January 2024, Ogunleye took to TikTok to allege that Colonel I.B. Abdulkareem, Colonel G.S. Ogor, and Brigadier General I.B. Solebo subjected her to severe harassment. She specifically accused Abdulkareem of multiple attempts to assault her, administering injections without her consent, forcibly evicting her from her home, and confining her to a psychiatric hospital for months after she rejected his advances.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, stated that the investigation had found Ogunleye’s claims to be unfounded. He cited a thorough review of evidence, including medical evaluations, which indicated that she was suffering from a condition that affected her mental health.
In response to these findings, Ogunleye reiterated her demand for transparency, asking the Army to publicly disclose the investigation’s results. “I would like to thank the Nigerian Army and Maj. Gen. Nwachukwu,” she said. “However, I urge the Army to publish the outcome of the investigation that led to my discharge on June 15, 2024, so the world can know what truly happened.”
Ogunleye also appealed to the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy, for support, highlighting her previous involvement in her case. “Ma, you requested that I leave the job, and I submitted my resignation at your behest. Please speak the truth about what transpired. The Chief of Army Staff later converted my resignation to a medical discharge to ensure I received my entitlements. But I need clarity—where is this alleged mental illness coming from?”
As the situation unfolds, Ogunleye’s calls for accountability and transparency continue to resonate within the community.
