The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has addressed a letter to Head of Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan, complaining that the permanent secretary in the ministry, Ibrahim Lamuwa, has been sexually harassing a female staff member.
In the letter dated May 27, the minister said he decided to write to her because of the “gravity of the matter,” urging Yemi-Esan to handle the matter accordingly.
Promised to provide any assistance required for the head of service to discharge her duties.
In a petition to the minister, through her lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), a married employee of the ministry, Simisola Fajemirokun Ajayi, had complained about the excesses of the permanent secretary.
The petition 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,” was signed by Adebayo A. Oniyelu LP for Falana & Falana’s.
The counsel reminded the minister that he intervened in the past and was assured that such atrocity and bizarre act would not happen again. Yet, in May this year, Lamuwa resumed his sexual molestation.
The letter reads: “Our attention has been drawn to the bizarre and continuous incidents of sexual harassment, intimidation, oppression, discrimination and conduct likely to breach the public peace within your esteemed ministry by Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa.
“Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa’s conduct has created an unsafe and uncomfortable working environment for our client and other staff within your ministry due to the disturbing experiences and ordeals from the permanent secretary.
“Consequent to the foregoing, we seek the intervention of your good office on the above- captioned matter based on the following facts.”
“October 7, 2023 during the first policy retreat to review President Tinubu’s 4D policy, Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa approached our client to inquire as to why she did not sleep at the hotel and informed her that he would want her to come to his room after the event. Our client explained that she was a nursing mother and needed to go home to care for her baby.”