Yusuf Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs, has notified
Folasade Yemi-Esan, head of service of the federation, about persisting
allegations of sexual harassment against Ibrahim Lamuwa, permanent secretary of
the ministry.
In a letter dated May 27 to Yemi-Esan, Tuggar said he felt
it necessary to write her following the “gravity of the matter”.
Simisola Fajemirokun Ajayi, a married female employee of the
ministry, through Femi Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and her
lawyer, had informed Tuggar of Lamuwa’s
alleged sexual advances.
The document was signed by Adebayo Oniyelu, on behalf of
Falana.
According to the petition, Lamuwa approached Ajayi on
October 7, 2023, during the first policy retreat to review President Bola
Tinubu’s 4D policy, to ask why she did not sleep at the hotel after the event.
The petition added that the permanent secretary informed
Ajayi that he would want her to come to his room after the event but she
declined, saying she was a nursing mother and needed to go home to care for her
baby.
“Is it a big baby or small baby?” the petition quoted Lamuwa
as inquiring, adding that he would like to find out so he can join.
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“He, however, continued this line of inappropriate anecdotes
throughout the retreat.
“On November 10, 2023: our client went to Amb. Ibrahim
Lamuwa’s conference room where he was working out to discuss the plans to
digitize the Ministry.
“Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa invited her for a meeting later that
afternoon with a team from Galaxy Backbone. During the conversation, Amb.
Ibrahim Lamuwa requested our client take a voyage with him to Hong Kong. He
further assured our client that our client’s life would never remain the same
after the trip.
“Our client left the scene in utter shock and disappointment
because of the awkwardness of the Permanent Secretary, Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa’s
discussion.
“While our client was
about to excuse herself, Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa thoughtlessly put his arms around
our client’s arms and demanded a full frontal hug which she rejected.”
Citing another instance, Oniyelu said Lamuwa summoned Ajayi
and challenged her that she had not been to his office since February because
she had grudges against him.
“He then offered our client to drink tea from his cup whilst
forcefully putting his arms around our client and referring to her as a
‘stubborn woman’,” Oniyelu said.
The petition added that a discreet investigation conducted
by Ajayi revealed that other women, particularly female directors, were almost
raped in their hotel rooms, adding that female foreign service officers have
been harassed, threatened and removed from trips, postings and other privileges
because they declined to comply with Lamuwa’s sexual urges.
Tuggar asked Yemi-Esan to handle the matter accordingly.
The minister also said he would provide any assistance
required for the head of service to discharge her duties.
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