Alleged Sexual Misconduct: House of Reps Exonerates Members from Accusation for Want of Evidence

The House of Representatives Committee on Ethics and Privileges has exonerated its three members from allegations of sexual misconduct level against them by United States’ authorities.

The committee, which investigated the allegation had in a report submitted to the house on Tuesday, said that the lawmakers were exonerated from the accusation for want of evidence.

The former US Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, had alleged that Mohammed Gololo (APC-Bauchi), Mark Gbillah (APC-Benue) and Samuel Ikom (PDP-Akwa Ibom), sexually assaulted some ladies in hotel in the US.

The ambassador had, in a petition to the house, alleged that the lawmakers who attended a leadership programme in Cleveland, Ohio, sexually assaulting a house keeper and solicited sex from some girls.

But, Chairman of the House’s committee, Nicholas Ossai (PDP-Delta), while presenting the report, said that the lawmakers were cleared for want of evidence.

“Hon. Mohammed Gololo, Hon. Mark Gbillah and Hon. Samuel Ikom are cleared of and exonerated from the allegations levelled against them by the US Ambassador to Nigeria in his June 9, 2016 letter to Speaker, for want of evidence.

In the light of the foregoing, the Minister of Foreign Affairs should engage the US Ambassador to Nigeria with a view to finding a seamless resolution of the domestic fallout of this unfortunate incident as it relates to the lawmakers,’’ Ossai said.

He also urged the ministry to write and remind the US Embassy of the need to always adopt the official channel of communication in its dealing with any organ or institution of government.

The incident allegedly occurred in a hotel  during the International Visitor Leadership Programme in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. held between April 7 and April 13. It was  attended by 10 members of the lower chamber.