By: Manoah Kikekon
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| General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) andLCpl Comfort Jonah |
LAGOS, NIGERIA — In a move that has sent ripples through the Nigerian military hierarchy, Olumayowa Akogun-Abudu, a prominent military veteran, has issued an urgent plea to the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff.
He is demanding an immediate investigation into what he describes as the "systematic persecution, dehumanization, and unlawful dismissal" of 15NA/74/4422F LCpl Jonah Comfort.
The case, which centers on allegations of a ₦35 million gold theft, has sparked a national conversation regarding the abuse of power within the armed forces and the vulnerability of junior female officers. Akogun-Abudu argues that the treatment of LCpl Comfort serves as a "mirror held up to the rot eating deep into Nigeria’s defence and justice systems."
The official Nigerian Army narrative alleges that LCpl Jonah Comfort was dismissed following the theft of high-value gold jewelry belonging to the wife of a retired Major General. However, Akogun-Abudu contends this story was "conveniently loud but dangerously misleading." Speaking to News Peddlers, he questioned how a retired senior officer’s spouse possessed ₦35 million in gold without scrutiny, while a junior soldier’s life was being dismantled.
According to Comfort, the ordeal began in February 2024 when a former domestic staff member of Retired Major General MG Ali, named Sylvester, approached Comfort to help sell jewelry he claimed belonged to his late mother. Comfort allegedly only connected him to a third-party buyer. "No theft. No entry into any bedroom. No equal shared benefit," Akogun-Abudu stated, emphasizing that the soldier acted merely as a link between two parties.
The situation took a dark turn on May 2, 2024, when LCpl Comfort was arrested by Military Police. The veteran claims she was subjected to verbal abuse and public humiliation by the retired General and his wife, in direct violation of the right to dignity of the human person.
"On May 6, 2024, she was marched before Rtd Maj Gen MG Ali, where she was verbally abused and threatened with dismissal," Akogun-Abudu reported. "A retired officer has no legal authority to interrogate or direct disciplinary outcomes within the Nigerian Army. Yet, this is exactly what happened, violating Section 36 of the Constitution, which guarantees a fair hearing."
Despite reports that legal officers advised against dismissal noting that the alleged offense did not warrant such an extreme measure under the Armed Forces Act the Brigade Commander reportedly pushed through with the discharge. On May 17, 2024, Comfort was dismissed, evicted from her quarters, and her property was seized.
"LCpl Jonah Comfort was tried in a rushed and compromised process," the veteran lamented. "Her children were forcefully removed, and she was paraded like a convicted criminal before she even had a chance to defend herself in a proper court of law. This violates Sections 116–129 of the Armed Forces Act."
The injustice allegedly deepened when, following her dismissal, Comfort was handed over to civil police and charged in a civilian court for the same allegations. Akogun-Abudu points out that this constitutes Double Jeopardy, a violation of Section 36(9) of the Nigerian Constitution, which protects citizens from being tried twice for the same offense.
"She was handed over like personal property," Akogun-Abudu said with visible frustration. "She is now being chased across states by a retired officer, a move that undermines the entire integrity of our judicial system."
The veteran’s petition is addressed to the highest levels of government, including the Minister of Defence, General CG Musa, the Chief of Army Staff, and the National Assembly Committees on Defence. The plea is simple: an independent review of the case to ensure that "justice does not wear rank."
"If a female lance corporal can be silenced and broken this way, then no soldier is safe," the veteran warned. "The uniform must not become a tool of oppression. We must decide if our soldiers are servants of the nation or victims of unchecked power."
As the story gains traction, civil society organizations and the Nigerian Bar Association have been urged to monitor the proceedings. LCpl Comfort Jonah, who spoke through tears during recent interviews, remains in a legal battle to clear her name and reclaim her dignity.
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," Akogun-Abudu concluded, quoting Martin Luther King Jr. He insists that for the sake of the Nigerian Army’s morale and the nation's safety, this case cannot be swept under the rug.