Perm Sec Accuser Invited by ICPC Over Sexual Harassment Claims
The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) has summoned the Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry over allegations of sexual harassment.
The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) has summoned the Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Ibrahim Lamuwa, over allegations of sexual harassment made by a ministry staffer, Simisola Fajemirokun-Ajayi. Lamuwa has denied the accusations, claiming Fajemirokun-Ajayi misinterpreted incidents and made baseless allegations. The ICPC investigation is ongoing.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs staffer who filed accusations of sexual harassment against the Permanent Secretary of the ministry has been invited for an interview by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) is conducting an investigation into Simisola Fajemirokun-Ajayi's claims of sexual harassment against Permanent Secretary Ibrahim Lamuwa.
After receiving Fajemirokun-Ajayi's appeal, the OHCSF sent a question to Lamuwa.
Lamuwa has answered the question by refuting the accusations. The complainant misinterpreted the incidents of alleged sexual harassment that were included in her petition, he said.
The invitation letter, dated June 11, and signed by Acting Director of Operations, S. Yahaya, stated: “In light of the above and pursuant to sections 28 and 40 of the said Act, you are kindly requested to release and direct Mrs Simisola Fajemirokun-Ajayi of the Ministry to appear for an interview before the undersigned at the Commission's Headquarters, Abuja, on Friday, 14 June 2024 at 10:00 hours.”
The exact petition that sparked the ICPC investigation and the scope of the agency's probe are currently unknown.
The ministry's highest-ranking civil servant, the permanent secretary, is in charge of day-to-day operations. He answers directly to the minister, who oversees the ministry's general direction and is in charge of carrying out policies.
Additionally, Fajemirokun-Ajayi, who is presently working as the minister's assistant, claimed in her petition that Lamuwa had harassed her sexually on a regular basis.
She claimed that the harassment got to the point where it was bothersome and persistent enough for her to start worrying about being sexually attacked.
Fajemirokun-Ajayi accused Lamuwa of creating a hostile work environment, which was particularly problematic given her role required regular close collaboration and frequent reporting to him, making her feel uncomfortable and vulnerable.
She claimed that the senior official repeatedly made inappropriate comments and moves toward her, which left her feeling uneasy and uneasy about doing her job.
She recalled that on October 7, 2023, following President Bola Tinubu's 4D policy review, the permanent secretary allegedly made an inappropriate proposition for her to enter his hotel room. She mentioned that during the multi-day event, this recommendation was given.
In a countercharge, he said that Fajemirokun-Ajayi's accusations against him originated from his repeated denial of her, what he perceived to be, illegal requests about the ministry's funds.
He described one specific incident in which Fajemirokun-Ajayi, not knowing the regulations and procedures of the civil service, asked to view policy files and even the financial records of high-ranking ministry operations.
“By no means should the permanent secretary, as chief accounting officer of the ministry, provide such sensitive documents to an aide of the minister, worse via a WhatsApp chat. There are due processes in government, and they must be followed.
“We must emphasize that Fajemirokun- Ajayi is a political appointee, not a civil servant. Thus, finance and policy matters are out of her bounds in this instance,” the letter read.
He maintained that the petition was just circulated online to attract sympathy and attention for what he considered to be her baseless allegations.
The ICPC is now handling several cases involving sexual harassment. This one is not the first.
The agency is presently pursuing a sexual harassment lawsuit in the Federal High Court of Abuja against Cyril Ndifon, the dean of the University of Calabar's (UNICAL) suspended faculty of law.
He is a law professor who was demoted from his role as dean of the faculty after a protest march led by female faculty members accused him of sexual harassment.
In addition, he is accused of four other offenses, including governmental corruption, abuse of power, and sexual harassment. Sections 8, 18, and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Act, 2000 are violated by the accused offenses.
Sexual harassment cases are handled by a special unit of the ICPC. The agency classifies sexual harassment as an abuse of office in accordance with its enabling statute.
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