The Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, has formally complained to the Head of the Civil Service about sexual harassment accusations against the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ibrahim Lamuwa.
In a letter dated May 27, 2024, Tuggar expressed his deep concern about the allegations made by Mrs. Simisola Ajayi, stressing the need for a quick and thorough investigation into the matter.
The letter, titled “Official Complaint Regarding Sexual Harassment of Mrs. Simisola Ajayi by Ambassador Ibrahim Lamuwa,” explained the gravity of the situation and asked the Head of Service to address it properly.
Tuggar included a copy of the complaint he received and assured his full cooperation in the investigation.
The Ministry’s spokesperson, Eche Abu-Ode, confirmed the complaint, saying, “Yes, the complaint is true.”
When reached for his response, Lamuwa declined to comment, stating, “I am in a meeting. Sorry, I cannot talk, please,” without responding to further messages.
Beyond Boders further reports that the Minister’s media assistant, Alkasim Abdulkadir, declined to comment, saying the matter is being looked into by the relevant authorities.
Ajayi, through her lawyer Femi Falana, submitted a petition on May 29, 2024, detailing multiple instances of harassment by Lamuwa.
The petition requested a thorough investigation into Lamuwa’s conduct, accusing him of creating an unsafe and uncomfortable working environment.
One incident mentioned was during a policy retreat on October 7, 2023, where Lamuwa allegedly made inappropriate advances towards Ajayi, inviting her to his hotel room.
Another incident on November 10, 2023, involved Lamuwa allegedly inviting Ajayi to travel to Hong Kong with promises of personal benefits.
