The Men Against Rape Foundation (MARF) has challenged the Nigerian Army authorities to publish the outcome of an investigation involving the case of Private Ruth Ogunleye, a female soldier who accused senior officers of sexual harassment.

The group demanded this in a press statement issued on Thursday, which was jointly signed by Lemmy Ughegbe, Executive Director, Men Against Rape Foundation (MARF) and Augustine Eigbe, Director of Strategic Development.

MARF asserted that the Nigerian Army should be transparent in its handling of such cases so that the citizens can be sure it did not compromise on justice.

The statement reads: “MARF is calling for transparency and public disclosure of the investigation that led to Ogunleye’s discharge from the Army, a decision the military attributed to mental health concerns.”
The group called on the Army to publish the full findings of its investigation into Ogunleye’s allegations.

MARF emphasised the importance of transparency to ensure accountability and restore public confidence in the process.

The statement continues: “It is deeply troubling that the Nigerian Army has not made public the investigative findings that led to the exoneration of Colonel Abdulkareem and the discharge of Private Ogunleye.

“In the interest of justice, we demand that the Army discloses the full report and provides a clear explanation of how it arrived at its decision.”

The Foundation also questioned the “Army’s justification for discharging Ogunleye on medical grounds, particularly as she has consistently maintained that she resigned of her own volition”.

MARF called for an independent review of the investigation, stressing that such oversight is necessary to ensure that Ogunleye’s rights were not violated.

MARF also urged the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy, to clarify her role in Ogunleye’s discharge, as the former soldier mentioned the minister’s involvement in the resignation process.

The statement reads, “The Nigerian Army must ensure that Private Ogunleye’s rights have been fully protected and that due process was followed throughout the investigation.

“We stand with all survivors of sexual harassment and gender-based violence, and we will continue to advocate for justice and accountability.”

MARF concluded by reaffirming its commitment to monitoring the case closely, stating that failure to address these concerns would undermine the principles of fairness and justice in Nigeria’s institutions.

In January 2024, via her TikTok page, @Ogunleyeruthsavage1, Ogunleye alleged that Colonel I.B. Abdulkareem, Colonel G.S. Ogor, and Brigadier General I.B. Solebo had made her life unbearable.

She accused Abdulkareem of making repeated attempts to assault her, administering injections against her will, forcibly removing her from her residence, and confining her to a psychiatric hospital for several months after she rejected his sexual advances. However, the Army authorities have exonerated the accused, claiming that Ogunleye is suffering from mental instability.

Ogunleye has also dared the Nigerian Army authorities to publish the outcome of its investigation into the matter.