Wrongfully Retired Army Officers Urge Tinubu To Enforce Court-Ordered Reinstatements
By ALIYU AMINU ABUBAKAR ABDULLAHI (A.A.A.A.) SHEHU
FOLLOWING President Bola Tinubu’s reinstatement of former DSS spokesperson Marilyn Ogar, the 38 senior Army officers wrongfully retired in 2016 are renewing their appeal for justice.
Ogar’s return to service — praised by Cross River leaders as a victory for fairness — has raised hopes among the affected officers, who say they were dismissed without due process, queries, or court-martial. Despite multiple National Industrial Court rulings declaring their retirements illegal, the Army has refused to reinstate them, even after losing all appeals.
Several of the officers, many still young and qualified, have written to Tinubu since 2023, urging him to compel compliance with the judgments. One officer, Lt. Col. Abdulfatai Mohammed, detailed the hardship they have endured, while another, Ojebo Ochankpa, died in 2017 waiting for justice.
Security analysts say the case is a critical test of the administration’s commitment to the rule of law, noting that the Army has previously reversed wrongful retirements, including the 2016 reinstatement of Major General Ahmadu Mohammed.
Stakeholders, including human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), are calling on Tinubu, the Attorney-General, and the Defence Minister to ensure the Army obeys the subsisting court orders and restore the officers to service.
