Following an official trip to Ohio in April this year, Mohammed Gololo (APC-Bauchi), Mark Gbillah (APC-Benue) and Samuel Ikom (PDP-Akwa Ibom) were accused of inappropriate behaviour. Former US ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, had accused the lawmakers of sexually assaulting a house keeper and soliciting for sex while attending the International Visitors Leadership Programme in Cleveland, Ohio.
Following the allegations, the speaker of the House Hon Yakubu Dogara, referred the matter to the Ethics and Privileges Committee for investigation. Yesterday, Hon Nicholas Ossai, the committee chairman, submitted its report, which exonerated the trio, saying that the lawmakers were cleared for want of evidence.
Hon Ossai said: “Rep Mohammed Gololo, Rep Mark Gbillah and Rep 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 the 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 fall out of this unfortunate incident as it relates to the lawmakers."
He further urged the ministry of foreign affairs to write to 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. This incident allegedly occurred in a hotel during the International Visitor Leadership Programme in Cleveland, Ohio, US, held between April 7 and 13.
It was attended by 10 members of the lower chamber. When the House ordered a probe in July, the US ambassador was expected to provide video evidence but according to Hon Ossai, no evidence was provided.
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