ICPC Grills Female Staff Over S3xual Harassment By Permanent Secretary
In a development that follows the allegations of sexual harassment and assault against the suspended Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ibrahim Lamuwa, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related matters Commission (ICPC) has invited Simisola Fajemirokun-Ajayi, one of the female staff for questioning.
The female staff was released by the ICPC after being quizzed for hours on Friday.
It was reported that “Fajemirokun-Ajayi arrived at the commission’s headquarters at about 9:40am, on Friday, alongside her lawyer.”
It was also learnt that the woman wasn’t arrested but rather invited by the ICPC “to come and substantiate the sexual harassment allegations against the Permanent Secretary of her ministry, Ibrahim Lamuwa,” according to an official who spoke with Daily Trust.
The ICPC invitation letter to Mrs Fajemirokun-Ajayi was addressed to the minister of foreign affairs, requesting him to release her for questioning.
Ibom Focus on Monday broke the news that Nigeria’s foreign affairs minister Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar had written to the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, officially complaining about allegations of sexual harassment against Lamuwa.
In a petition on Monday, a married employee of the ministry, Simisola disclosed the excesses of the permanent secretary to Ambassador Tuggar, through her lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), and urged the minister to investigate the permanent secretary.
It would be recalled that SaharaReporters also reported that at least three more women had testified against the Permanent Secretary on the same allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by Simisola Fajemirokun-Ajayi, an aide to the minister.
It had also been reported that the permanent secretary was suspended by the Office of the Head of Service after a petition got to the office.
The Joint Negotiating Council, JNC, the labour union in the Ministry, had also accused the permanent Secretary of high-handedness, maladministration, favouritism and financial improprieties, which, according to them, had significantly affected the welfare and rights of the workers.
