June 13, (THEWILL) – The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) has suspended the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ibrahim Lamuwa, over alleged sexual harassment.
THEWILL earlier reported that Lamuwa was accused of serial sexual harassment by a married female employee of the Ministry, Simisola Fajemirokun-Ajayi.
In a petition dated May 29, 2024, and addressed to Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fajemirokun-Ajayi alleged that multiple instances of sexual harassment by Lamuwa have created an unsafe and uncomfortable working environment for her.
The female civil servant, in the petition filed by her lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), alleged that during a policy retreat on October 7, 2023, Lamuwa allegedly made inappropriate advances towards her, suggesting she joined him in his hotel room.
She also cited an incident on November 10, 2023, where Lamuwa allegedly invited her to travel to Hong Kong, China, promising significant personal benefits from the trip.
Fajemirokun-Ajayi, in the petition signed by Adebayo A. Oniyelu LP of Falana & Falana’s, therefore, called for a thorough investigation into the actions of Lamuwa.
THEWILL had also reported that the Minister of Foreign Affairs had on May 27, written to the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Folasade Yemi-Esan, to probe the allegation.
However, the HoCSF, on Wednesday, June 12, said Lamuwa would be on suspension pending the outcome of a probe into the allegation against him.
“The Permanent Secretary has been suspended pending the outcome of the probe by the committee set up,” a senior director in the OHCSF told Punch.
It was further gathered that the HoCSF, after the petition submitted against Lamuwa, constituted a committee to look into the matter.
Meanwhile, Lamuwa has denied the allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by Fajemirokun-Ajayi.
In an official reaction through his legal team led by Audu Anuga (SAN), Lamuwa strongly denied all the assertions made by Mrs Fajemirokun-Ajayi.
In the statement published by PRNigeria on Wednesday, Anuga faulted the claims, saying the accuser read wrong meanings into the courteous dispositions of the Permanent Secretary.
It read: “We are legal representatives of Ambassador Ibrahim Lamuwa, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and have been authorised to make the following statement on his behalf in response to allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by Mrs Simisola O. Fajemirokun-Ajayi, an aide to the Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs.
“The media, particularly the social media, has been inundated with the digital copy of a petition written by legal representatives of Mrs. Fajemirokun-Ajayi against Amb. Lamuwa.
“This petition was leaked to generate sympathy for her unsubstantiated claims.”
About the Author
