Foreign affairs minister Yusuf Tuggar has lodged a sexual harassment complaint against the ministry’s permanent secretary Ibrahim Lamuwa with the head of the civil service of the federation.
Tuggar told the head of civil service in a letter dated May 27, 2024, that the woman named Simisola Ajayi made the allegations against Lamuwa.
The letter read, “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,”
Tuggar included the complaint received via email in the letter sent to the head of civil service.
In her petition dated May 29, 2024, written by her lawyer Femi Falana and addressed to Tuggar, Ajayi accused the permanent secretary of serial sexual harassment.
She claimed for instance that during a policy retreat on October 7, 2023, Lamuwa allegedly made inappropriate advances towards her, suggesting she joined him in his hotel room.
He reportedly continued with inappropriate remarks throughout the retreat.
She also cited an incident on November 10, 2023, where Lamuwa allegedly invited Ajayi to travel to Hong Kong, promising significant personal benefits from the trip.
Confirming the development, spokesperson for the ministry Eche Abu-Ode told PUNCH: “Yes. The complaint is true.”
The newspaper said Lamuwa declined comment, saying he was in a meeting and could not speak further.
