Sex Scandal: Minister of Foreign Affairs Reports Randy Permanent Secretary To Head of Service

By ‘Bike Ogbonnaya with reports and documents*

Minister’s Letter to HOS

For the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr.Ibrahim Lamuwa, the cup is full.

According to petitions from female ministry employees, the permanent secretary has been accused of sexually harassing one of them.

This accusation was supported by a letter from Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, addressed to the Federation’s Head of Service, Folasade Yemi-Esan, requesting appropriate action.

Tuggar stated in the letter dated May 27 that he felt compelled to write to her due to the “gravity of the situation,” and urged Yemi-Esan to handle it appropriately.

The minister went on to say that he would help the head of service carry out her duties.

The aes of Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa, who the staff of the ministry decribed as randy classless and could harrass even cleaners sexually, blew open when a married employee of the ministry, Simisola Fajemirokun Ajayi, had disclosed the excesses of the permanent secretary in a petition to the Minister, through her lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), where Ajayi urged Tuggar to investigate the permanent secretary.

Adebayo A. Oniyelu LP signed 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” on behalf of Falana & Falana.

While recounting how the Permanent Secretary had harassed her, the counsel reminded the minister that he had intervened in the past and had been assured that such atrocities and bizarre acts would not occur again; however, in May, he (Lamuwa) resumed his sexual molestation.

It read, in part, “Our attention has been drawn to the bizarre and continuous incidents of sexual harassment, intimidation, oppression, discrimination, and conduct likely to disrupt public order within your esteemed Ministry by Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa.” Due to the Permanent Secretary’s disturbing experiences and ordeals, Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa’s conduct has created an unsafe and uncomfortable working environment for our client and other staff members within your Ministry.

“In light of the foregoing, we respectfully request your assistance in the above-mentioned matter based on the facts stated below.

“On October 7, 2023, during the first policy retreat to review President Tinubu’s 4D policy, Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa approached our client to ask why she did not sleep at the hotel and invited her to his room after the event. Our client explained that she was a nursing mother who needed to return home to care for her infant.

“Dissatisfied with this, he reiterated his sexual advances to our client, saying, “Is it a big baby or a small baby- he suspects it is a big baby and wants to know so he can join.” Throughout the retreat, he continued to tell inappropriate anecdotes.

The petition stated, “On November 10, 2023, our client went to Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa’s conference room, where he was working out, to discuss plans to digitise the Ministry. Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa invited her to a meeting later that afternoon with a team from Galaxy Backbone. During the conversation, Ambassador Ibrahim Lamuwa requested that our client accompany him to Hong Kong. He also assured our client that their life would never be the same after the trip. Our client left the scene stunned and disappointed by the awkwardness of Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa’s discussion.

“As our client was about to excuse herself, Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa thoughtlessly wrapped his arms around hers and demanded a full frontal hug, which she declined. The Honourable Minister recalls that in March 2024, our client discussed her safety with you in order to avoid being raped by Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa as a result of the consistent sexual harassment she has reported even as a married woman.

“Following her unfortunate encounter with the Permanent Secretary, the Honourable Minister assured our client of a change in behaviour as he confronted him.

“At approximately 3:20 p.m. in May 2024, our client went to Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa’s office on the Honourable Minister’s instruction to inform the Permanent Secretary to contact his counterpart in the Ministry of Defence for the reports required for the upcoming US trip.

“Upon arriving at the Permanent Secretary’s office, our client was informed that he was in his inner room. In her desperate attempt to avoid being molested, our client returned to her office, where, interestingly, Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa demanded that she return to his office at approximately 3:41pm on the same day.

“As instructed, our client returned immediately to see the Permanent Secretary. When we arrived at the Permanent Secretary’s office, he informed us that our client had not visited his office since February because she held grudges against him. He then offered our client tea from his cup while forcing his arms around her and calling her a “stubborn woman.”

“Our client hurriedly left the Permanent Secretary’s office for fear of being molested after repeatedly demanding a tight hug from him because he had missed seeing her.

“It is important to note that a discreet investigation conducted by our client revealed that more women have made unadorned allegations against the Permanent Secretary, particularly female directors who were almost raped in hotel rooms and female foreign service officers who have been harassed, threatened, and removed from trips, postings, and other privileges because they refused to comply with Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa’s uncontrollable sexual urges.

“Given the facts presented above, the Honourable Minister would agree that sexual harassment, intimidation, oppression, discrimination, and abuse of office in any form are unacceptable. They violate your Ministry’s policies as well as ethical guidelines. It includes, but is not limited to, unwanted advances, inappropriate remarks, and any behaviour that creates a hostile work environment.

“In the circumstances, we humbly request that you use your revered office to conduct a thorough investigation into the facts presented in this petition against Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa, and if found liable, appropriate disciplinary actions be taken against him as a deterrent to future occurrences of such infractions.”