The Nigerian Army has debunked claims of acts of cyberbullying and sexual harassment levelled against Colonel Ishaku Abdulkareem, and other personnel by ex-Private Ruth Ogunleye on social media.
Addressing a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the Director, Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, said Ex-Private Ruth Ogunleye has continued to propagate false narratives against Colonel Abdulkareem and other senior officers, using online platforms to engage in cyberbullying and defamation despite the report of a panel exonerating the said officer.
General Nwachukwu explained that the former soldier was discharged on the 14th of June 2024 after a thorough medical examination that declared her unfit to continue serving as a soldier.
General Nwachukwu added that while acts of sexual harassment are condemnable, the Nigerian Army will not tolerate the defamation of its officers and soldiers, particularly when it is based on falsehoods and driven by ulterior motives.
“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 IB 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, stabilise her before discharging her into the wider society.”
