Permanent Secretary denies sexual harassment allegations by Minister’s aide
By Innocent Raphael
Permanent Secretary of Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ibrahim Lamuwa has responded to allegations of sexual harassment made by Simisola Ajayi, a staff member under his supervision.
The allegations surfaced in a petition authored by the legal chambers of Femi Falana and were subsequently referred to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, by Foreign Affairs Minister Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar.
Lamuwa, addressing the accusations through a statement issued by his lawyer on Wednesday, categorically denied any inappropriate conduct towards Ajayi.
He emphasized that he had never made sexual advances or suggestive comments towards her, recounting specific instances during a ministry retreat on October 7, 2023, which Ajayi had cited in her claims.
Lamuwa stated that his only interaction with Ajayi during the retreat was a routine check on all participants to ensure their well-being in their accommodations.
He further explained that a colloquial conversation about nursing mothers was misinterpreted, asserting that his comments were made in jest and in the presence of other participants.
The Permanent Secretary also refuted claims that he invited Ajayi to Hong Kong, clarifying that their discussion about Hong Kong’s digitization efforts was misconstrued. Lamuwa questioned the plausibility of such an invitation, given Ajayi’s role as an aide to the minister.
Lamuwa suggested that the allegations might be retaliatory, stemming from his firm stance against what he described as improper requests made by Ajayi regarding financial matters in the ministry.
He cited instances where Ajayi sought reimbursement for an unapproved trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos and requested access to sensitive policy files and financial records via WhatsApp, which he denied in adherence to civil service protocols.
Highlighting his 32-year unblemished service record, Lamuwa stressed that he has never faced any harassment complaints throughout his career, which includes postings in Hong Kong, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Senegal.
