The Nigerian army has exonerated Ishiaku Abdulkareem, a
colonel, of allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation of Ruth Ogunleye,
a soldier.
Onyema Nwachukwu, army spokesperson, spoke to journalists on
Tuesday in Abuja on the outcome of the investigation.
Nwachukwu said the sexual allegations against the colonel
was referred to the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police for investigation.
The army spokesperson said the investigation revealed that
the colonel did not commit the offences.
BACKGROUND
In January 2024, Ogunleye, in a video she published on
TikTok, accused three senior officers in the army of harassment, intimidation
and threat to life.
Ogunleye said her trouble started when she was posted to the
Cantonment Medical Centre, Ojo, Lagos, where she met the colonel.
The female soldier alleged that the colonel made sexual
advances to her but she rejected him.
She claimed that the senior officer consequently threatened
to dismiss her from the army, denied her promotion courses, and rejected her
army pass request.
She also narrated how the colonel allegedly evicted her from
her apartment and locked her up at a psychiatric hospital.
Ogunleye added that anytime she tries to report Abdulkareem
to senior officers, he always tells them she is battling mental illness.
The video went viral, prompting the Nigerian army to investigate the allegations.
Subsequently, Kennedy-Ohanenye, minister of women affairs,
visited Ogunleye at the hospital where she was “undergoing rehabilitation”.
‘FEMALE SOLDIER
DISMISSED FROM SERVICE WITH 50% MONTHLY PENSION FOR LIFE’
Speaking on the outcome of the investigation, Nwachukwu said
the findings of the panel that investigated the allegations “were definitive
and based on objective evaluation of the available information”.
“The investigation
concluded that Colonel IB Abdulkareem did not commit the offence of sexual
harassment as alleged by Ex-Private Ruth Ogunleye,” the army spokesperson said.
“The army maintains that Col. Abdulkareem is a disciplined,
regimented, and firm officer who has upheld the values of the Nigerian Army
throughout his service.”
The army spokesperson added that in 2022, the female soldier
was recommended for discharge on medical grounds.
Nwachukwu said the army decided to keep Ogunleye in the
service to give her the best medical treatment possible before her dismissal.
He added that during the course of investigation, it was
observed that the mental health condition of the female soldier had worsened.
“Based on the medical report from the National Hospital and
the advice of the Nigerian Army Medical Corps, the decision was made to shelve
any disciplinary procedures that could have been brought against her,”
Nwachukwu said.
“Instead, the Army
prioritized her health, understanding that she was in no position to continue
with military service. She was subsequently boarded and discharged from service
in June.
“She has also been paid her Terminal Leave Allowance and
Terminal Packing Allowance, as well as her contributions to Nigerian Army
Welfare Insurance Scheme (NAWIS) and Benevolent Fund (BENFUND).
“The payments were made on 14 August 2024 into her FCMB
account. Her Security Debarment Allowance for the period she served (5 years 54
days) has also been paid.
“The decision for her discharge was reached following her
rejection of an offer of medical treatment either from the National Hospital or
the Nigerian Army.”
The army spokesperson said although the female soldier did
not serve up to 10 years, she will receive 50 percent monthly pension for life.
Nwachukwu alleged that Ogunleye still continued to use her
social media accounts to “defame and spread false narratives” against senior
officers.
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