Revealed: 10 Lawmakers on US Trip were Interrogated by State Dept over Sex Scandal

• House proceeds on two-week recess

The 10 lawmakers who attended International Visitors Leadership Programme in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, were interrogated by officials of the US State Department over allegations of sexual misconduct against three of their colleagues.

Hon. Mark Gbillah, Hon. Samuel Ikon and Hon. Garba Gololo were accused of soliciting for sex during the trip.
THISDAY gathered from reliable sources that the lawmakers were interrogated in April 2016 before they returned to Nigeria.

Some other lawmakers on the trip included the Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Jonathan Gaza Gbewfi; the Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Rita Orji; Hon. Ayo Omidiran, Hon. Nkole Ndukwe and Hon. Danburam Abubakar.

This therefore negates any claims by the lawmakers that the allegations were brought to their attention when they returned to Nigeria.

Reliable sources also told THISDAY that the State Department is in possession of more than just ‘verbal evidence’ against the three men.
The House spokesperson, Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas, however told THISDAY that he was not aware that lawmakers were interrogated while in the US.

US Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, in a letter to Speaker Yakubu Dogara, had alleged that Gololo grabbed the housekeeper who was cleaning his hotel room and solicited for sex from her while Gbillah and Ikon allegedly asked hotel parking attendants to assist them to solicit prostitutes.

The accused lawmakers have denied the allegations and have threatened legal action to clear their names.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Committee on Ethics and Privileges, Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai, said the committee is still working to sort the modalities for the investigative hearing which would be public.

The committee, in collaboration with the Committee on Foreign Affairs, is saddled with the responsibility of investigating the allegations against Gololo, Gbillah and Ikon.

It is expected to liaise with the US Embassy in Abuja to examine any evidences against the men, that would buttress the allegations for which their visas have already been revoked.
Ossai said the committee had not made the decision on when to commence the hearing. Meanwhile the House has commenced on a two-week recess for the Ramadan. It would reconvene on July 12, 2016.

The 10 lawmakers who attended International Visitors Leadership Programme in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, were interrogated by officials of the US State Department over allegations of sexual misconduct against three of their colleagues.
Hon. Mark Gbillah, Hon. Samuel Ikon and Hon. Garba Gololo were accused of soliciting for sex during the trip.

THISDAY gathered from reliable sources that the lawmakers were interrogated in April 2016 before they returned to Nigeria.

Some other lawmakers on the trip included the Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Jonathan Gaza Gbewfi; the Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Rita Orji; Hon. Ayo Omidiran, Hon. Nkole Ndukwe and Hon. Danburam Abubakar.

This therefore negates any claims by the lawmakers that the allegations were brought to their attention when they returned to Nigeria.

Reliable sources also told THISDAY that the State Department is in possession of more than just ‘verbal evidence’ against the three men.
The House spokesperson, Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas, however told THISDAY that he was not aware that lawmakers were interrogated while in the US.

US Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, in a letter to Speaker Yakubu Dogara, had alleged that Gololo grabbed the housekeeper who was cleaning his hotel room and solicited for sex from her while Gbillah and Ikon allegedly asked hotel parking attendants to assist them to solicit prostitutes.

The accused lawmakers have denied the allegations and have threatened legal action to clear their names.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Committee on Ethics and Privileges, Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai, said the committee is still working to sort the modalities for the investigative hearing which would be public.

The committee, in collaboration with the Committee on Foreign Affairs, is saddled with the responsibility of investigating the allegations against Gololo, Gbillah and Ikon.

It is expected to liaise with the US Embassy in Abuja to examine any evidences against the men, that would buttress the allegations for which their visas have already been revoked.
Ossai said the committee had not made the decision on when to commence the hearing. Meanwhile the House has commenced on a two-week recess for the Ramadan. It would reconvene on July 12, 2016.