HoCSF suspends federal perm after receipt of petition
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Allegedly randy Ibrahim Lamuwa, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been suspended by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF) over sexual harassment allegation levelled against him by a Director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Folashade Yemi-Esan, who issued the suspension order, said Lamuwa would be off duty until the conclusion of the investigation of the allegation to be carried out by a committee.
“The permanent secretary has been suspended pending the outcome of the probe by the committee set up,” a Director in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) disclosed.
The suspension followed a petition Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar submitted against Lamuwa, which led to the constitution of the probe committee.
The complainant in the petition submitted by Tuggar was Simisola Ajayi, who accused Lamuwa of serial sexual harassment.
Ajayi, in the petition filed by her lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, outlined alleged instances of harassment.
In a letter addressed to the HoCSF on 27 May 2024, Tuggar expressed concern over the serious nature of the allegations.
“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,” Tugar wrote.
“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.”
An official familiar with the case confirmed Yemi-Esan set up the investigation committee upon receipt of Tuggar’s letter.
“Yes, the Head of Service has set up a committee to probe the whole matter. There are pieces of evidence, which will be tabled and witnesses who will also be invited to speak on the matter, so it is not a matter that will be swept under the carpet,” the official said.
“The Minister [Tuggar] is also very much interested in the outcome. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a special ministry that operates even outside the shores of the country, so you can’t expect that an issue of such gravity will be swept under the carpet.”
Ajayi had accused Lamuwa of serial sexual harassment in a petition dated 29 May 2024 and addressed to Tuggar,
The petition, signed by Adebayo A. Oniyelu LP of Falana & Falana’s, is titled “Request For An Investigation Of Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa’s Conducts Of Sexual Harassment At The Place Of Work, Abuse Of Office, Official Intimidation And Discrimination.”
Ajayi recounted in the petition alleged multiple instances of harassment by Lamuwa, which created an unsafe and uncomfortable working environment for her.
She alleged, among others, that
- During a policy retreat on 7 October 2023, Lamuwa made inappropriate advances at her, suggesting she joined him in his hotel room.
- Lamuwa continued with inappropriate remarks about her throughout the retreat.
- On 10 November 2023, Lamuwa invited her to travel to Hong Kong with him, promising her significant personal benefits from the trip.
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