A former Nigerian female soldier, Private Ruth Ogunleye, has come forward with serious allegations regarding her treatment after reporting a rape case. In a recent interview on an AIT program monitored by SaharaReporters, Ogunleye claimed that her allegations against General Christopher Gwabin Musa, the current Chief of Defence Staff, and other senior officers were disregarded due to the accused’s rank.
Ogunleye, who was discharged from the military after accusing Colonel I.B. Abdulkareem of sexual harassment, detailed her struggles in seeking justice. She stated, “I sought intervention from people like General C. G. Musa. I told him and many other officers, but nothing was done because he is my senior, and nobody was ready to give me a listening ear.”
Despite following the procedures outlined in Section 179 of the Armed Forces Act, Ogunleye reported that her pleas for redress were met with silence. She alleged that Abdulkareem had subjected her to forced medical treatment and confinement in a psychiatric hospital after she rejected his advances.
In January 2024, Ogunleye took to TikTok, alleging that Colonel I.B. Abdulkareem, Colonel G.S. Ogor, and Brigadier General I.B. Solebo had made her life unbearable, with Abdulkareem making repeated attempts to assault her and forcibly removing her from her residence.
In response to Ogunleye’s allegations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, stated that the claims lacked merit. He indicated that an investigation found no evidence to support her allegations against Abdulkareem, asserting that medical evaluations revealed Ogunleye was suffering from a condition that rendered her medically vulnerable.
As the situation unfolds, Ogunleye’s case highlights ongoing concerns regarding the treatment of sexual harassment and assault allegations within the Nigerian military, particularly when senior officers are involved.
