From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has written to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan, over allegation of sexual harassment levelled against the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Adamu Ibrahim Lamuwa.
The sexual harassment allegation against Lamuwa, emanated from Mrs Simisola Fajemirokun Ajayi, one of the aides of the minister.
Lamuwa, it would be recalled, served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Senegal, with concurrent accreditation to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania before his appointment as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Lamuwa who joined the foreign service in 1993, was born in 1967, and hails from Funakaye Local Government Area of Gombe State.
Tuggar, in the letter dated May 27, 2024, said he was compelled to write to inform the Head of Service 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.
“Please find attached a copy of the complaint I received via email. May I also assure you that I remain available to provide you with any assistance required in discharging your responsibilities,” Tuggar wrote.
Daily Sun however gathered from a source within the top echelon of the ministry that Lamuwa had been asked to step aside by the Office of the Head of Service.
Lamuwa was given till Friday last week to vacate office and the immediate past Nigerian Ambassador to Cuba, Ambassador Benaoyagha Okoyen, assumed office yesterday (Monday) in acting capacity.
The source also said the development was “not a speculation” and affirmed that “it was true.”
Asked what awaits Lamuwa if found guilty, the source said: “if they don’t try to play politics based on where he is coming from, if the rules are properly applied, it is dismissal because it is gross misconduct.”
Ajayi, in a letter dated May 29, 2024, chronicled different instances whereby Lamuwa made advances towards her.
In the letter signed by Adebayo Oniyelu of Falana & Falana’s Chambers, addressed to Tuggar, Ajayi urged Tuggar to carry out a thorough investigation and if found liable, appropriate disciplinary actions should be meted against him to serve as deterrence to forestall future occurrence.
The letter read: “We are Solicitors to Mrs Simisola O. Fajemirokun-Ajayi (hereinafter referred to as “our client”) on whose behalf and specific instructions we write you.
“Our attention has been drawn to the bizarre and continuous incidents of sexual harassment, intimidation, oppression, discrimination and conduct likely to breach the public peace within your esteemed Ministry by Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa. Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa’s conduct has created an unsafe and uncomfortable working environment for our client and other staff within your Ministry due to the disturbing experiences and ordeals from the Permanent Secretary.
“Consequent to the foregoing, we seek the intervention of your good office on the above captioned matter based on the following facts:
“1. October 7, 2023: during the first policy retreat to review President Tinubu’s 4D policy, Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa approached our client to inquire as to why she did not sleep at the hotel and informed her that he would want her to come to his room after the event. Our client explained that she was a nursing mother and needed to go home to care for her baby. Dissatisfied with this, he reiterated his sexual advancement to our client by saving “Is it a big baby or small baby-he suspects it’s a big baby and would like to find out so he can join,” He, however, continued this line of inappropriate anecdotes throughout the retreat.
“2. 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.
“3. The Honourable Minister would recall that sometime in March 2024, our client discussed with you concerning her safety for fear of not being raped by Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa resulting from the consistent sexual harassment reported even as a married woman. Upon her unfortunate predicament with the Permanent Secretary, the Honourable Minister assured our client of a change of behaviour as he had confronted him.
“4. Sometime in May 2024, our client went to Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa’s office under the Honourable Minister’s instruction at about 3:20 pm to inform the Permanent Secretary to contact his counterpart in the Ministry of Defence for the reports needed for the upcoming US trip.
“5. Upon arriving at the Permanent Secretary’s office, our client was informed that he was in his inner room. In her desperate attempt to avoid getting molested, our client returned to her office and interestingly, Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa demanded that she return to his office at about 3:41pm on the same day.
“6. As instructed, our client immediately returned to see the Permanent Secretary. On arriving at the Permanent Secretary’s office, he commented that our client 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’s and referring to her as a “stubborn woman.”
“7. Our client again hurriedly left the Permanent Secretary’s office for fear of not being molested after repeated demands of a tight hug from him as he had missed seeing, her.
“8. It is pertinent to state that a discreet investigation conducted by our client revealed that more women are with unadorned allegations against the Permanent Secretary, particularly female directors who were almost raped in the hotel rooms and female foreign service officers who have been harassed, threatened and removed from trips, postings and other privileges because they declined to comply with Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa’s uncontrolled sexual urges.”
Ajayi further said given the above-stated facts, the Minister would agree that sexual harassment, intimidation, oppression, discrimination and abuse of office in any form were unacceptable.
“They violate your Ministry’s policies as well as ethical standards. It includes but is not limited to unwanted advances, inappropriate comments, and any behaviour that creates a hostile work environment.
“In the circumstances, we humbly request you to use your revered office to cause a detailed investigation to be carried out into the facts presented in this petition against Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa and if found liable, appropriate disciplinary actions should be meted against him as this will serve as a deterrent against future reoccurrence of such infractions.
“Whilst we hope that the salient issues raised in this letter will be given the required attention, please accept, as usual, Your Excellency, the assurances of our principal, Mr Femi Falana SAN’s warmest regards,” the letter also read.
Efforts to reach Lamuwa was not successful and he did not respond to call placed across to his mobile phone at 10:17am, nor an SMS and WhatsApp chat at 10:21am respectively.
Also, efforts to reach the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation was also not successful as the Head of Media, Mohammed Sabo Ahmed, did not respond to calls placed across to his mobile phone at 11:51am, including WhatsApp chat at 11:10am.
However, the Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alkasim Abdulkadir, confirmed the development.
“No comment. The matter is being looked into by the relevant authorities,” Abdulkadir said.