The Nigerian Army has cleared Colonel Ishaya Ibrahim, a senior officer of the Nigerian Army, of any wrongdoing following allegations of sexual harassment, cyberbullying, and defamation brought against him by ex-Private, Ruth Ogunleye.
The army also revealed that Ogunleye had been discharged from service due to mental health issues, which were confirmed through independent medical examinations conducted by the National Hospital.
This was disclosed by Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, during a briefing on Tuesday.
He said, “The Nigerian Army deems it necessary to address a series of grave allegations, act of cyberbullying and the continued defamatory behaviour directed at a senior officer, Colonel Ishaya Abdulkareem, and other personnel by Ex-Private Ruth Ogunleye in the social media, especially TikTok.
“This individual has been relentless in her online campaign against Colonel Abdulkareem, a matter that the Army can no longer overlook.
Noting that the Nigerian Army is a professional force committed to the highest standards of discipline, integrity and accountability, Nwachukwu said, “It is guided by rules and regulations that ensure every officer and soldier operate within the framework of respect for human rights and due process.
“In line with this, the Army takes every accusation leveled against its personnel seriously and has established procedures to investigate any claim made against its personnel.
“The case of Ex-Private Ruth Ogunleye, who claims to be a former subordinate of Colonel IB Abdulkareem at the Nigerian Army Medical Corps Headquarters in Lagos, is no exception to our commitment to due process.
“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 and tasked with conducting thorough investigation into the veracity of her claims.
“The investigation was conducted in line 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 Ishaya Abdulkareem did not commit the offence of sexual harassment as alleged by Ex-Private Ruth Ogunleye.
“The findings were definitive and based on objective evaluation of the available information. The Army maintains that Colonel Abdulkareem is a disciplined, regimented, and firm officer who has upheld the values of the Nigerian Army throughout his service.
“Suffice to mention that Ex-Private Ruth Ogunleye had been recommended for discharge on medical grounds since 2022, but the Nigerian Army being sympathetic to its own, thought it wise to give her the best medical treatment possible, stabilize her before discharging her into the wider society.
“Hence, while the Army was addressing the allegations of sexual harassment, further concerns about Ruth Ogunleye’s conduct came to light. Her behaviour, both online and offline, raised questions about her worsening mental health and emotional stability.
“Consequently, the Nigerian Army referred Ex-Private Ruth Ogunleye for medical evaluation at the National Hospital in Abuja, following earlier assessments made by the Nigerian Army Medical Corps that suggested potential mental health concerns.
“This decision was taken to safeguard her well-being and to ensure that any action taken by the Nigerian Army was 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. In light of this, the Army, while fully capable of proceeding with disciplinary action for her acts of indiscipline and misconduct, opted to exercise compassion and leniency.
“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.
“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.
