Alleged sexual harassment: Army denies withholding female soldier’s salary

The female soldier identified as Ruth Ogunleye who said she was being victimised and maltreated because she refused to give in to her superiors’ sexual advances was paid in full of her salaries till December, the Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja has clarified.

The army chief said this on Friday after the minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy paid a courtesy visit to Lagbaja at the Army headquarters in Abuja.

WesternPost reported that Uju vowed to weigh into the matter of the female soldier who said she was being victimized.

The minister had described the video of the female soldier as disturbing and said such allegations should not be allowed to be swept under the carpet.

Sharing her experiences on TikTok under her handle @ogunleyeruthsavage1, she stated that some superior officers, whom she identified as Col. I. B. Abdulkareem, Col. G. S. Ogor, and Brig. Gen. I. B. Solebo had made life unbearable for her since she joined the Army.

The soldier also alleged that Abdulkareem made repeated attempts to assault her by administering injections against her will.

“He comes to my room to inject me in my apartment and sends some boys to my house…I have all the evidence. I have evidence against him and I have witnesses.

However, on the visit, the minister was adequately updated by the Lagbaja on the efforts the Army has put in place towards resolving the matter.

In the course of the visit, the Minister was also informed with documented evidence that the lady’s salary was never stopped as she was paid up to December last year alongside her other colleagues and also directed some senior officers to accompany the minister to visit the lady.

Responding, Uju in a statement issued by her spokesperson, Ohaeri Joseph on Friday expressed her delight with the efforts the Army High Command has made to address the matter and specifically thanked the Chief of Army Staff for putting necessary measures in place for the lady’s rehabilitation before they commence investigation into the matter.

“I am happy to have met the Chief of Army Staff with his top management and must commend their collective efforts towards handling this matter, my visit is pursuant to the mandate which the Women Affairs Ministry has to promote the interest of every woman in Nigeria and I have received strong assurances from the Chief of Army Staff concerning this matter who has equally detailed some senior officers to accompany me to visit Miss Ogunleye, I interacted with her and I am optimistic that the outcome will be fine.”