Sexual Harassment: Head Of Service Queries Perm. Sec., Ministry Of Foreign Affairs

Sexual Harassment: Head Of Service Queries Perm. Sec., Ministry Of Foreign Affairs

• Category: News
• Date 13-06-2024

The office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), has queried Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, over alleged sexual harassment.

Lamuwa, who served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Senegal with concurrent accreditation to Mauritania before his appointment as Permanent Secretary, is accused of sexually harassing Mrs Simisola Fajemirokun-Ajayi, a staff of the ministry.

Mr Muhammed Ahmed, Deputy-Director of Communication in the OHCSF, confirmed Lamuwa’s query on Wednesday in Abuja.

“Lamuwa was queried in accordance with the Civil Service rules and regulations,” he told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), adding that the query is to give the accused a fair hearing.

“His response will set the path for further necessary action,” Ahmed said, adding that there would be “unhindered investigation into the alleged case of sexual harassment”.

“We are following the procedure in the Civil Service. The case shall be fully investigated,” he said.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, had, based on a petition by Fajemirokun-Ajayi, through her Legal Counsel, Femi Falana, officially asked Mrs Folasade Yemi-Esan, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, to wade-in on the matter.

His letter asking her to step in on the matter went viral on Tuesday.

Tuggar stated in the letter: “Bearing in mind the gravity of the matter, it has become necessary to draw your attention to it, while requesting the OHCSF to handle the matter”.

The deadline for Lamuwa’s response could not be confirmed, but an unconfirmed source said that he had been asked to step aside to avoid interference that could taint investigation into the matter. (NAN)