An employee of the Federal Ministry of Foreign affairs, Simisola Fajemirokun Ajayi, has been invited by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for interrogation over a probe into alleged graft.
Ajayi, who is married, was in the news last week after she accused Ibrahim Lamuwa, the permanent secretary of the ministry, of sexual harassment.
Recall that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, had written a letter to the Head of service of the federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan, alerting her about the “persisting” allegations of segxwal harassment against Lamuwa.
In a letter dated 27 May 27, Tuggar said he felt it was necessary to write Esan following the “gravity of the matter”. Ajayi, through Femi Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had informed Tuggar of Lamuwa’s alleged segxwal 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 dimension has surfaced as ICPC has invited Ajayi to appear at its headquarters in Abuja on Friday, June 14, 2024 for an “interview”.
In a letter of invitation dated June 11 addressed to the minister of foreign affairs, 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 in part
The letter, which was signed by S. Yahaya, acting director of information at the ICPC, did not give details of the violated act for which Ajayi was invited.
However, sources within ICPC confirmed the invitation.
“She was invited to properly present her case to pave way for proper investigation into the matter,” our sources said.
