Emmanuel Thomas l Wednesday, Oct 29, 2025
ABUJA, Nigeria – Private Etim has won a stunning court victory against the Nigerian Army, with a judge ruling her summary dismissal for alleged ‘AWOL’ (Away Without Official Leave) was ‘unconstitutional and unlawful’.
The brave soldier, who served at the Depot in Zaria, has been ordered to be immediately reinstated and the Army must fork out millions in back pay and damages!
Hon. Justice Sinmisola Adeniyi of the National Industrial Court in Abuja didn’t hold back, demanding the Army pay Private Etim:
N1,947,711.96 in outstanding salaries and emoluments dating back to June 2022.
A further N2,000,000 in damages for her unlawful sacking.
The Army now has just 30 days to cough up the massive payout.
The Great Lockout Lie
Private Etim had fiercely denied the trumped-up AWOL charge, claiming the whole trial was a sham and a breach of her right to a fair hearing.
The Army claimed the Private failed to report back to her post after completing a course in December 2020. Their witness insisted the dismissal was all above board.
But Etim fought back, arguing her course was suspended due to the Covid-19 lockdown in March 2020. When she tried to report back, her Head Clerk claimed they hadn’t received the official ‘RTU’ (Return to Unit) message.
In a damning judgment, Justice Adeniyi agreed with the Private, stating the Army had ‘failed to prove the allegation of AWOL’.
The court found the Private’s salary was still being paid until May 2022, torpedoing the Army’s claim that she had disappeared without trace.
Even more shocking, the Judge revealed that the very officer who failed to send the return message was the same one who reported the alleged offence!
Justice Adeniyi ruled that Etim wasn’t even invited to the Board of Inquiry investigating her, concluding that the entire trial was ‘unlawful’ and the AWOL charge was ‘unsubstantiated’.
