SAN FRANCISCO, July 14, (THEWILL) – The investigative panel set up by the House of Representatives to probe the alleged sex scandal involving three members of the House has, on Thursday, shifted hearing on the matter to July 20.
THEWILL recalls that Hon. Mohammed Garba Gololo (APC, Bauchi), Hon. Samuel Ikon (PDP, Akwa Ibom) and Hon. Mark Gbillah (APC, Benue), were accused of engaging in illicit sexual activities, during a leadership training programme in Cleveland, Ohio, by the outgoing U.S Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle.
The U.S Ambassador and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, invited by the house joint committees of ethics and privileges and foreign affairs to testify on the matter, were absent at the hearing.
Entwistle was to provide video evidence of sexual misconduct against three honourable members.
Ossai Ossai, Chairman of the joint committees, explained that Onyema wrote a letter to the committee to plead that he was away for an African Union (AU) summit holding in Kigali, Rwanda and asked the committee to put the hearing at a later date, and promised to appear.
“I regret that I would not be able to attend the scheduled committee hearing as it coincides with the 29th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union which I will be attending in Kigali, Rwanda from 13-15 July 2016,” the letter read.
“I would however be pleased to appear before the Committee at any other time after my return from Kigali on 19th July 2016.”
Ossai however expressed optimism that Onyeama and Entwistle would show up on July 20, the new date of the hearing, to give their own accounts regarding the sexual misconduct allegation levelled against the lawmakers.
Story by David Oputah
