Simisola Fajemirokun Ajayi, (1).jpg
The ICPC has summoned a civil servant, Simisola Fajemirokun Ajayi, who accused a permanent secretary of sexual harassment, for interrogation over an alleged violation of anti-corruption laws.

In a surprising twist, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has summoned Simisola Fajemirokun Ajayi, a civil servant at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for interrogation. Ajayi, a married woman, had previously accused Ibrahim Lamuwa, the permanent secretary of the ministry, of sexual harassment.

The ICPC's decision to investigate Ajayi comes after Yusuf Tuggar, the minister of foreign affairs, notified the head of the service about the "persisting" allegations of sexual harassment against Lamuwa. Tuggar's letter, dated May 27, cited the "gravity of the matter" as the reason for his communication.

Ajayi had initially informed Tuggar of Lamuwa's alleged sexual advances through her legal representative, Femi Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria. However, Lamuwa has denied the allegations, claiming that he turned down Ajayi's request to pay her bills during an overseas trip.

In a letter dated June 11, addressed to the minister of foreign affairs, the ICPC stated that it is "investigating an alleged violation of provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000" and has requested Ajayi's presence at its headquarters in Abuja on June 14 for an "interview." The letter, signed by S. Yahaya, the acting director of operations at the ICPC, did not provide details on the specific act that Ajayi is alleged to have violated.

Source: The Cable