Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry Official Accused Of Sexual Harassment By Married Employee

Yusuf Tuggar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, has informed Folasade Yemi-Esan, head of the Service of the Federation, about ongoing sexual harassment allegations against Ibrahim Lamuwa, the ministry’s permanent secretary.

In a letter dated May 27 addressed 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, reported Lamuwa’s alleged sexual advances through her lawyer, Femi Falana.

According to the complaint, Lamuwa approached Ajayi on October 7, 2023, during a policy retreat, and asked why she didn’t stay at the hotel after the event.

He implied he wanted her to visit his room, 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.

“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.”

In another instance, he summoned her, accused her of avoiding his office, and offered her tea from his cup while putting his arms around her, calling her a “stubborn woman.”

“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.

Ajayi’s investigation revealed that other women, especially female directors, were almost raped in their hotel rooms, and female foreign service officers faced harassment, threats, and removal from assignments for refusing Lamuwa’s advances.

Tuggar asked Yemi-Esan to handle the matter and offered his support in resolving the issue.

The minister also said he would provide any assistance required for the head of service to discharge her duties.

KanyiDaily recalls that police recently arrested a lecturer of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Mfonobong Udoudom, for sexually assaulting a married female student in his office.