Ambassador Ibrahim Lamuwa, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been suspended by the Office of the Head of Service following a sexual harassment complaint.
The Head of Service, Folashade Yemi-Esan, stated that the permanent secretary would be suspended pending the outcome of an investigation into the allegations 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 our correspondent in Abuja.
Following a petition presented by Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar against Lamuwa, the HoS formed a committee to investigate the situation.
Tuggar’s appeal included a complainant named Simisola Ajayi, who accused Lamuwa of serial sexual harassment.
In a petition filed by her lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), Ajayi detailed numerous incidents of harassment.
Tuggar expressed his concern about the seriousness of the allegations against the permanent secretary in a letter to the Head of Service dated May 27, 2024.
“I am compelled to write to inform you of a formal complaint against the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ibrahim Adamu Lamuwa, on allegations of sexual harassment.
“Bearing in mind the gravity of the matter, I feel it necessary to draw your attention to it and ask that you handle it accordingly,” the minister stated in the letter.
On Wednesday, an individual familiar with the situation told our correspondent that after receiving Tuggar’s letter regarding the allegation against Lamuwa, the HoS formed an investigative panel.
The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity owing to the sensitive nature of the case, stated, “Yes, the Head of Service has set up a committee to probe the whole matter. There are pieces of evidence that will be tabled and witnesses who will also be invited to speak on the matter, so it is not a matter that will be swept under the rug.
“The minister (Tuggar) is also very interested in the outcome. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a special ministry that operates even outside the shores of the country, so you can’t expect that an issue of such gravity will be swept under the carpet.”
In a petition dated May 29, 2024, filed with Tuggar, Ajayi accused the permanent secretary of serial sexual harassment.
Adebayo A. Oniyelu, LP of Falana & Falana’s, signed the petition, which was titled “Request For An Investigation Of Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa’s Conducts Of Sexual Harassment At The Place Of Work, Abuse Of Office, Official Intimidation, and Discrimination.”
According to the appeal, Ajayi described numerous instances of harassment allegedly committed by Lamuwa, which produced a dangerous and uncomfortable working atmosphere.
She said that during a policy retreat on October 7, 2023, Lamuwa made unwanted approaches towards her, proposing she visit him in his hotel room. He apparently continued to make offensive statements during the retreat.
She further mentioned an incident on November 10, 2023, in which Lamuwa allegedly invited Ajayi to Hong Kong, offering considerable personal rewards from the trip.
