The House of Representatives is seeking an audience with the United States Ambassador in Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, after the envoy shunned Thursday’s investigative public hearing by the House on the alleged sexual misconduct by three of its members during a recent visit to the US. The decision to meet Entwistle appears to be a reversal of the House’s insistence on Thursday that the Ambassador must attend the hearing now rescheduled for July 20.
The envoy shunned the Thursday hearing, citing diplomatic immunity. The investigation was triggered by a June 9, 2016 petition by Entwistle to Speaker Yakubu Dogara in which he accused Mohammed Garba Gololo (Bauchi), Samuel Ikon (Akwa Ibom) and Mark Gbillah (Benue) of attempted rape and soliciting prostitutes while on an official visit to his country in April.
Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas, told reporters yesterday that the House will “go to the Ambassador” if necessary in a bid to get to the root of the allegations.
