A Nigerian woman faced an unusual summons. Her CEO called her in for eating at the same restaurant. The incident occurred while the CEO dined with special guests. Bimbola Rayale shared her story. She was responding to a similar workplace anecdote online.

Employee’s Story Sparks Response

Rayale’s narrative came after an X (formerly Twitter) user, @General_Oluchi, recounted an elevator encounter. The user described an “awkward” moment with their CEO. This CEO manages 20,000 employees. The user noticed the CEO’s perfectly matching shoes and tie. They couldn’t resist a compliment.

“Nice shoes, sir,” the employee quietly offered. The CEO smiled and expressed gratitude. He inquired about her destination floor. She provided the information.

He then asked about the new office space. The employee responded with appreciation.

“For a month, I expected an HR email,” the user stated. “It would warn me against complimenting the CEO. But no such email arrived.”

The Restaurant Incident Unfolds

Rayale reacted with amusement. “Nigerian CEOs!” she exclaimed. She recalled her own post-graduation experience. She routinely visited upscale restaurants. These were located in areas like VI and Ikoyi. She aimed to “enjoy the fruits of her labor” after each payday.

One day, she chose Jevenick, a new restaurant on Adeola Odeku. It had received glowing recommendations.

As she prepared to eat, her CEO arrived. The CEO was accompanied by important guests. Upon seeing Rayale, the CEO asked, “Abimbola, who brought you here?” Rayale explained she was alone. The CEO reacted with surprise, saying, “Wow!”

Post-Lunch Summons from the CEO

Following her meal, Rayale received a summons. Her CEO called her to the office. The CEO then explained her embarrassment. She felt Rayale’s presence at the restaurant was inappropriate. Rayale expressed her apologies.