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The Workplace of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) has issued a question to Ibrahim Lamuwa, the Everlasting Secretary, Ministry of International Affairs, over alleged sexual harassment reported in opposition to him.
Mr Lamuwa, who served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Senegal with concurrent accreditation to Mauritania earlier than his appointment as Everlasting Secretary, was accused of sexually harassing Simisola Fajemirokun-Ajayi, an aide to the Minister of International Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Tuggar forwarded Mrs Fajemirokun-Ajayi’s petition which he acquired from her attorneys to the OHCSF for investigation.
Whereas the minister is the general head of the ministry who’s chargeable for coverage implementation, the everlasting secretary, subsequent to him in hierarchy, is chargeable for the operating of the day-to-day affairs of the ministry.
Muhammed Ahmed, Deputy-Director of Communication within the OHCSF, on Wednesday in Abuja, confirmed that Mr Lamuwa has been queried over the matter.
“Lamuwa was queried in accordance with the Civil Service guidelines and laws,” he instructed the Information Company of Nigeria (NAN).
In response to him, the question is to present the accused a good listening to.
“His response will set the trail for additional obligatory motion.”
He additionally hinted that there could be “unhindered investigation into the alleged case of sexual harassment”.
“We’re following the process within the civil service. The case shall be totally investigated,” he mentioned.
Everlasting secretary denies allegations
However PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Lamuwa has since submitted his response to the petition, which he denied.
Within the response despatched to the workplace of the pinnacle of service, Mr Lamuwa addressed every alleged incident talked about within the complainant’s petition, saying they have been maliciously misconstrued as sexual harassment.
He additionally made a counter-accusation, alleging that Mrs Fajemirokun-Ajayi’s “malicious claims” in opposition to him have been triggered by his fixed rejection of her “improper requests” in regards to the ministry’s funds.
A specific occasion, in accordance with him, was when Mrs Fajemirokun-Ajayi, who’s unfamiliar with civil service guidelines and processes, requested for entry to coverage information and even monetary data of high-level ministry actions.
“Certainly not ought to the everlasting secretary, as chief accounting officer of the ministry, present such delicate paperwork to an aide of the minister, worse by way of a WhatsApp chat. There are due processes in authorities, and so they should be adopted.
“We should emphasise that Mrs Fajemirokun-Ajayi is a political appointee, not a civil servant. Thus, finance and coverage issues are out of her bounds on this occasion,” the letter learn.
He argued that the petition was solely shared on-line to assemble public consideration and sympathy for her “unsubstantiated claims.”
Complainant’s petition
PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mrs Fajemirokun-Ajayi alleged in her petition that Mr Lamuwa’s sexual harassment grew to become so persistent and troubling to the purpose that she started to be apprehensive about getting raped, elevating considerations about her security within the office.
She alleged that Mr Lamuwa’s conduct created an unsafe work atmosphere for her, particularly as her roles required her to work intently with and report back to him typically.
In response to her, the highest official made inappropriate remarks and advances to her on completely different events, inflicting her to be apprehensive and uncomfortable with finishing up her duties.
Certainly one of such incidents, she mentioned, occurred on 7 October 2023 when the everlasting secretary inappropriately recommended to her to go to his lodge room on the finish of President Bola Tinubu’s 4D coverage overview, an occasion which was ongoing on the time.
She mentioned the highest official initially approached her to inquire as to why she didn’t sleep on the lodge after which knowledgeable her that he would need her to come back to his room after the occasion.
“Our shopper defined that she was a nursing mom and wanted to go dwelling to look after her child,” her attorneys wrote.
(NAN)
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