Former Nigerian soldier, Private Ruth Ogunleye, has made a heartfelt plea to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, requesting a review of her case, which led to her dismissal from service. Ogunleye was discharged after accusing a senior officer, Colonel I.B. Abdulkareem, of sexual harassment, a claim that has sparked significant attention.
In a video posted on her TikTok page, @Ogunleyeruthsavage1, Ogunleye expressed deep regret for previously disrespecting the army chief. She apologized sincerely, seeking his mercy and understanding, while asking for a fresh look into the events that led to her dismissal.
"From the bottom of my heart, I am truly sorry, sir. I apologize and ask for your mercy. Please forgive me for any disrespect. This is about my name and reputation. No one deserves to live under the weight of stigma—it can push a person to despair. I am asking for a second chance and for you to reconsider my case. I feel something was tampered with," she said.
Ogunleye further clarified in another video that her apology to Lagbaja was not a result of blackmail but out of remorse for her previous actions. "I acted out of frustration because I wanted to prove that Colonel Abdulkareem was guilty. I want to make it clear that I am not fighting the Nigerian Army; my issue is with Colonel Abdulkareem."
Earlier in January 2024, Ogunleye had taken to TikTok to accuse Colonel Abdulkareem and two other officers, Colonel G.S. Ogor and Brigadier General I.B. Solebo, of mistreating her. She alleged that Abdulkareem repeatedly attempted to assault her, forced injections on her against her will, removed her from her residence, and confined her to a psychiatric hospital after she rejected his advances.
In response to these serious allegations, Lieutenant General Lagbaja ordered a thorough investigation. Upon completion, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, announced that the investigation found no evidence supporting Ogunleye's claims of harassment by Colonel Abdulkareem.
“The investigation determined that Colonel I.B. Abdulkareem did not commit the alleged sexual harassment. This conclusion was based on an impartial evaluation of all the evidence and testimonies presented,” Nwachukwu stated.
He also revealed that Ogunleye had been recommended for discharge on medical grounds since 2022. Despite this, the Nigerian Army provided her with extensive medical care before eventually discharging her from service.
