Society Gists

Some employees of the federal ministry of foreign affairs named Simisola Fajemirokun Ajayi have been invited to be questioned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as part of an investigation into possible graft.

It was earlier reported that, Ajayi, the married female government worker accused ministry permanent secretary Ibrahim Lamuwa of harassing her sexually.

The head of the federation’s services, Folasade Yemi-Esan, was recently informed by Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar about “persistent” claims of sexual harassment made against Lamuwa.

In a letter dated May 27 and addressed to Yemi-Esan, Tuggar said he felt it was necessary to write her following the “gravity of the matter”.

Ajayi, through Femi Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had informed Tuggar of Lamuwa’s alleged sexual advances.

Lamuwa has since denied the allegation, claiming that he turned down Ajayi’s request to pay her bills during an overseas trip. However, in a new twist to the saga, the ICPC has invited Ajayi to appear at its headquarters in Abuja on Friday, June 14 for an “interview”.

In a letter of invitation dated June 11 addressed to the minister of foreign affairs — and seen by TheCable — the commission said it is “investigating an alleged violation of provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and it has become imperative to have recourse to your office”.

“In view of the above, pursuant to section 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 14th June, 2024 at 1100 hours,” the letter reads. The letter, which was signed by S. Yahaya, acting director of operations at the ICPC, did not give details of the violated act for which Ajayi was invited.