If the lobbyists succeed, the Ambassador of the United States to Nigeria, James Entwistle, may no longer present the much-publicised video evidence against the three members of the House of Representatives on Thursday when Ossai Ossai Committee assigned to probe the alleged sex misconduct involving the trio begins open public hearing.
Since it was announced that a supposedly damning video evidence to prove the culpability of the trio would be presented to the committee, some concerned members of the House have moved in to save what a member described as a ‘potentially embarrassing moment’ for both the House and the accused members.
“We are not admitting guilt on behalf of our colleagues but we are looking at the probability of the accusation being true and we are saying we don’t want such embarrassment. We believe the Ambassador or any person can make their point without a video presentation. At the very worst, we are appealing to the committee to treat the video with some measure of privacy.
“What if the allegation is true? These men have families, wives, children, brothers. They need to be protected just in case”, a House member who pleaded not to be named told our reporter.
The three accused members include Mohammed Garba Gololo (APC, Bauchi); Samuel Ikon (PDP, Akwa Ibom) and Mark Gbillah (APC, Benue).
Entwistle had in a petition to Dogara, alleged that the actions of the three lawmakers at the International Visitor Leadership Programme in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, from April 7 to 13, 2016, brought disrepute to the parliament. The Ambassador had alleged that the Reps solicited for sex from prostitutes and grabbing hotel housekeeper in a bid to rape her.
The allegation has sent tongues wagging in the polity and Nigerians of various divides have taken to social media to rebuke the lawmakers for bringing the nation and the parliament to disrepute in what appears to be judgment before trial.
Ten lawmakers attended the event but only three were accused of sexual harassment and soliciting for sex in contravention of US laws. At the expected hearing on Thursday, the minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, as well as the other seven lawmakers are expected to attend.
