House of Reps dismissed sexual misconduct against colleagues in the United States

The House of Representatives  has cleared three members of the house, Samuel Ikon (PDP, Akwa Ibom), Mohammed Gololo (APC, Bauchi) and Mark Gbillah (APC, Benue), all pictured above, of any sexual misconduct during their official visit to the US in April this year.  

The former US Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, had in June written a letter to Speaker Yakubu Dogara, accusing the lawmakers of sexual misconducts while in the US on an official assignment.

The lawmakers vehemently denied the allegations and called for a probe panel which was set up by the house. 

A statement released by the House of Representatives today reads

"The House Considered the Report of the Committee on Ethics & Privileges. The Report was on Allegations of Sexual Misconduct against Hon. Mark Terseer Gbillah, Hon. Mohammed Garba Gololo & Hon. Samuel Ikon by the United States Ambassador to Nigeria Mr. James Entwistle, while they were attending the International Visitors Leadership Programme in Cleveland, Ohio, USA from 7-13 April, 2016. 

The following were the Recommendations of the HOR:  (i) That Hon. Mohammed Garba Gololo, Hon. Mark Terseer Gbillah & Hon. Samuel Ikon are cleared & exonerated from the allegations leveled against them by the United States Ambassador to Nigeria in his June 9, 2016 letter to Rt. Hon. Speaker for want of evidence. (ii) That in the light of the foregoing, the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs do engage with with the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, with a view to finding a seamless resolution of the domestic fallout of this of this unfortunate incident as it relates to Hon. Mohammed Garba Gololo, Hon. Mark Terseer Gbillah, and Hon. Samuel Ikon.(iii) That the Ministry of Foreign Affairs do write to remind the United States Embassy  of the need to always adopt the official channel of communications in its dealings with any organ or institution of government.