A NIGERIAN female soldier, Private Ruth Ogunleye, has been discharged from service by the Nigerian Army following allegations of sexual harassment and mistreatment she made against her superior.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, September 24, the Director of Army Public Relations, Onyema Nwachukwu, a major-general, said the Army cleared the accused, I.B Abdulkareem, a colonel, of any wrongdoing after a thorough investigation.

The Army said several medical checks conducted on the dismissed officer showed that she was “medically vulnerable”, meaning that she could have made her allegation due to mental instability.

The Army said upon receiving the allegations, the Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja, constituted a panel to investigate them.

“Upon receipt of her initial complaint, which included allegations of sexual harassment, the Nigerian Army took immediate action. The matter was referred to the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police, who were tasked with conducting a thorough investigation into the veracity of her claims.

“The investigation was conducted in accordance with established protocols, with every effort made to ensure a fair and impartial process. It is crucial to assert that the Nigerian Army, in its bid to ensure justice and transparency, conducted an exhaustive review of the facts, testimonies, and evidence presented.

“The investigation concluded that Colonel I.B Abdulkareem did not commit the offence of sexual harassment as alleged by ex-Private Ruth Ogunleye. The findings were definitive and based on an objective evaluation of the available information,” he said.

He added that the female officer was taken to the hospital for medical evaluation after which she was confirmed to be suffering from a medical condition that made her vulnerable.

“Consequently, the Nigerian Army referred ex-Private Ruth Ogunleye for medical evaluation at the National Hospital in Abuja, following earlier assessments by the Nigerian Army Medical Corps that suggested potential mental health concerns.

“This decision was made to safeguard her well-being and ensure that any actions taken by the Nigerian Army were informed by a comprehensive understanding of her condition, as advised by trained professionals.

“The medical evaluation confirmed that Ruth Ogunleye was suffering from a condition that made her medically vulnerable,” he added.

According to Onyema, the officer was dismissed from service on medical grounds rather than taking disciplinary actions against her.

Earlier in January, Ogunleye accused a colonel and two other senior officers of harassing and threatening her.

In a (now deleted) video she posted on her TikTok page, she claimed I.B Abdulkareem, G.S Ogor, both colonel, and I.B Solebo, brigadier-general were threatening her life.

She claimed that after she was posted to the Cantonment Medical Centre, Ojo, Lagos state, Abdulkareem made sexual advances towards her, which she had rejected several times.

She also claimed that the senior officer threatened to dismiss her, deny her promotion courses and reject her Army pass request.

These allegations led the Chief of Army Staff to order a thorough investigation into her claims.

Addressing reporters on her dismissal, the director of Army Public Relations said despite its capability to carry out disciplinary action for the dismissed officer for acts of indiscipline and misconduct, the Army opted for compassion and leniency due to her medical reports.

“Instead, the Army prioritised her health, understanding that she was in no position to continue with military service. She was subsequently boarded and discharged from service.”

“Despite ex-Private Ruth not serving the requisite number of years to qualify for a pension (10 years), she has nonetheless been discharged from the Nigerian Army with a 50 per cent disability claim, meaning she will receive a 50 per cent monthly pension for life. She has also been paid her terminal leave allowance and terminal packing allowance, as well as her contributions to the Nigerian Army welfare insurance scheme and benevolent fund.

“These payments were made on 14 August 2024 into her FCMB account. Her Security debarment allowance for the period she served (5 years and 54 days) has also been paid. The decision to discharge her was made after she rejected an offer of medical treatment, either from the National Hospital or the Nigerian Army,” he added.

The ICIR reported how the Nigerian Army explained why it dismissed 22 senior officers in 2016.

In another report, this organisation reported how the Army said it had no obligation to tell dismissed officers why they were disengaged.