Foreign Affairs begin investigation into alleged sex scandal levelled on three
lawmakers, the outgoing US ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle is to
provide video evidence against the indicted members. Nigerian Pilot recalls that
on June 21, 2016, Speaker of the House, Hon. Yakubu Dogara said the
committees had been directed to investigate the allegation and assured that the
House will implement the report to the fullest. Dogara hinted that the report
would be made public and urged anybody who has proof to approach the
committees. He pointed out that the allegation was a serious one, stressing that
it was not about the three lawmakers alone, but the image of the House and
Nigeria at large. “This is a serious matter and it is not about the three
lawmakers alone nor the House as an institution. “I have directed the
Committees on Ethics and Privileges and Foreign Affairs to investigate the
matter before we take action. “Anybody who has any proof or evidence can
direct them to the committee,” Dogara stated. The three accused lawmakers
include: Mohammed Garba Gololo (APC, Bauchi); Samuel Ikon (PDP, Akwa
Ibom) and Mark Gbillah (APC, Benue). Other lawmakers, who also participated
in the International Visitor Leadership Programme are: Gaza Jonathan Gbefwi
(PDP- Nasarawa); Danburam Abubakar Nuhu (APC-Kano); Nkole Uko Ndukwe
(PDP- Abia); Rita Orji (PDP-Lagos) and Ayo Huliyat Omidiran (APC-Osun).
Entwistle had in the petition to Dogara alleged that the actions of the three
lawmakers at the International Visitor Leadership Programme in Cleveland, Ohio,
USA, from 7th to 13th April, 2016, brought disrepute to the parliament by
soliciting for sex from prostitutes and grabbing hotel housekeeper in a bid to
rape. Our correspondent gathered yesterday that the joint committee had been
unable to sit because some of the members of the two committees had travelled
during the break. It was also learnt that the committee decided not to extend
the invitation to the hotel management as the ambassador, who broke the
information through a letter to the Speaker, was expected to have all the
documentary evidence against the three accused members. Reacting on the
incident, Chairman of the Committee on Ethics, Hon Osdai Ossai said that the
committee decided not to invite the management of the hoteln where the
alleged sex misconduct took place because it believed that the ambassador
would come with all the necessary video evidence where the accused
committed the action. He said that the committee did not carry out any secret
investigation because the members involved in the allegation had demanded
public investigative hearing for Nigerians to see their culpability or otherwise. As
expected, the affected lawmakers had earlier denied all the allegations and
threatened to sue the ambassador and the US government for “character
defamation and a calculated attempt to ridicule the National Assembly.” In his
letter to the speaker dated June 13, Gololo, who was accused of grabbing a
housekeeper said: “Let me, from the outset, express my shock and dismay at
the contents of the letter generally. “These are totally false, unfounded and
baseless allegations against me. I categorically deny any such incident
happened, I never grabbed any housekeeper nor did I solicit for sex. I also take
this issue very seriously not only because I am a honourable member
representing a hallowed institution, but because of my integrity as a husband
and father. “How would my family and in-laws react to these wild and grave
allegations? I demand an apology and retraction of these allegations or I shall
not hesitate to engage the services of lawyers and not only to clear my name,
but to seek redress for the damages done to my reputation. I insist that
evidence of the allegations against me be produced”. Meanwhile, the Ossai
Ossai led Committee on Ethics and Privileges has extended its invitation to the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema and National Human Rights
Commissions, NHRC to attend the investigative session slated on Thursday this
week.
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