Reps Free Lawmakers Of Rape Allegation
Three members of the House of Representatives accused of sexual misconduct by the United States, have been exonerated by the the legislative lower chamber.
Mohammed Gololo (APC-Bauchi); Mark Gbillah (APC-Benue) and Samuel Ikom (PDP-Akwa Ibom) were cleared by the Reps following the recommendations made by its joint committees on ethics and privileges and foreign affairs which was assigned with the responsibility of investigating the matter.
The committee chairman, Nicholas Ossai (PDP-Delta), read the recommendations at the floor of the house : “That Hon. Mohammed Garba Gololo, Hon. Mark Terseer Gbillah and Hon. Samuel Ikon are cleared of and exonerated from the allegations leveled against them by the United States Ambassador to Nigeria in his June 9, 2016 letter to the Rt. Hon. Speaker, for want of evidence.
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“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 said.
Ossai advised the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to write to remind the US Embassy of the need to always follow the official and right channel of communications in its dealing with such matters and any organ or institution of government.
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It can be recalled that the alleged incident 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 House of Representatives.
The House had earlier ordered a probe into the matter in July and the US ambassador was expected to provide video evidence in respect of the accusation.
