A City of London banker who falsely accused his female manager of sexual harassment and assault, stemming from a comment about his visible string vest, has been sentenced to 20 months in prison and ordered to pay £150,000 in legal costs.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/idrinstitute.png")
Damilare Ajao, a separated father of two from Medway, Kent, worked for German finance giant Commerzbank in its client lifecycle management team at offices on Gresham Street from May to November 2019, when he was dismissed. He later filed an Employment Tribunal claim against the bank, alleging sexual harassment and assault by his manager, identified only as “Ms Q.”
Ajao’s allegations centered on incidents in the staff canteen, where he claimed Ms Q made flirtatious remarks, saying she could see his skin and nipples through his shirt because of the string vest underneath, and that she confessed, “I fancy you.” He further alleged she became annoyed after he rejected her supposed advances, attempted to touch his Gucci belt buckle forcing him to slap her hand away, and engaged in a pattern of sexualized behavior over the summer and autumn of 2019 that created an intimidating and hostile environment.
The bank dismissed the claims as a “wholly bogus” attempt to secure compensation. In April 2024, Employment Judge Anthony Snelson ruled the allegations “simply false” and “in large part made up,” finding no evidence of any sexual motive or assault. The judge noted that while Ms Q had acknowledged a brief, innocent conversation about Ajao’s vest in the context of friendly fashion talk, the rest was “pure invention” designed to damage her professional standing.
The case later escalated to the High Court, where Commerzbank pursued contempt of court charges. Ajao denied the charges, insisting his claims stemmed from a genuine “perception” of harassment and that he was not deliberately untruthful. His barrister, Sasha Wass KC, argued there was a “foundation in evidence” for his account, including Ms Q’s admission of the vest discussion.
However, the bank’s barrister, Louis Browne KC, countered that Ajao’s tribunal evidence and High Court testimony were unequivocal, stating the events “happened” with clear intent, not mere perception. He noted that Ajao had ample opportunity to retract but persisted.
Mr Justice Martin Spencer found Ajao guilty of serious contempt, describing his actions as a “deliberate and wicked assault” on Ms Q’s integrity. “There wasn’t a shred of truth in any of the allegations,” the judge stated. “Your lies were deliberate, perpetuated over a significant period, and included the giving of false evidence on oath. They represented an attempt to deceive the court into awarding you substantial damages.”
The judge highlighted “discrepancies, inconsistencies, and impossibilities” in Ajao’s evidence, deeming it “quite incapable of acceptance” and “untrue and deliberately so.” He rejected Ajao’s attempt to justify his delay in reporting the alleged incidents by citing Ms Q’s sensitivity due to a family bereavement, calling it a “cynical” exploitation of “genuine grief” within a “fictitious” narrative.
Ms Q, described by the court as “entirely honest and credible,” testified that her interactions with Ajao were professional and friendly, never involving inappropriate comments or advances. She described the ordeal as “insulting and painful,” saying she felt like a criminal and had to rely on sleeping medication due to the stress. The judge noted the “predictably serious” impact on her well-being.
Ajao, who has since lost his finance career, now relies on Universal Credit and lives alone after the collapse of his marriage. He received a 20-month prison sentence, with eligibility for early release on licence after eight months. The judge emphasized that “the most significant fact is that appropriate punishment can only be achieved by immediate custody.” He also ordered Ajao to contribute £150,000 toward the bank’s legal costs in the contempt proceedings.
How to Order:
📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878
📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com
🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com
Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626
________________________________________________________________________
“Timely And Groundbreaking” — Babalola, Nnawuchi Release Casebook On Privacy & Data Protection In Nigeria
A timely new publication, Casebook on Privacy & Data Protection in Nigeria, co-authored by Olumide Babalola and Uchenna Nnawuchi, 📘 Casebook on Privacy & Data Protection in Nigeria is now available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/8TmFZrd
______________________________________________________________________
[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
