‘Sexual abuse’: Discharged soldier begs Lagbaja to review outcome of probe, alleges interference

Ruth Ogunleye, a former soldier, has appealed to Taoreed Lagbaja, chief of army staff, to review the outcome of the investigation which led to her dismissal.

In a TikTok video published on Tuesday, Ogunleye said she believes that someone tampered with the outcome of the investigation.

She apologised to Lagbaja over her earlier comments against the him, adding her comments were triggered by frustration.

“I’m very sorry from the depth of my heart. Have mercy on me for disrespecting you (Lagbaja). Forgive me,” Ogunleye said.

“This has to do with my reputation and name. It is not good for one to be stigmatised (referring to the comment of the Nigerian army that she has mental health issues). Stigma can lead to people to death.

“I feel someone somewhere tampered with the results (of the investigation).”

THE OUTCOME OF INVESTIGATION

In September, Onyema Nwachukwu, army spokesperson, announced that the military has exonerated Ishiaku Abdulkareem, a colonel, of allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation made by Ogunleye.

Nwachukwu said the claims were 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.

The army spokesperson added that in 2022, Ogunleye 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.

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.

THE ALLEGATIONS

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 at 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 tried to report Abdulkareem to senior officers, he told them she is battling mental illness.

The video went viral, prompting the Nigerian army to investigate the allegations.

Subsequently, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, minister of women affairs, visited Ogunleye at the hospital where she was “undergoing rehabilitation”.

Ogunleye also claimed that the minister advised her to resign from the army.