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Tag: House of Representatives

  • Reps to investigate BoI, BoA, FMBN, NERFUND, others

    Reps to investigate BoI, BoA, FMBN, NERFUND, others

    The House of Representatives is to investigate the activities of federal financial institutions over their failure to fulfill their statutory mandates.

    An ad hoc Committee to undertake the investigation is expected to also proffer solutions on ways of streamlining their activities with a view of repositioning them for effective service delivery.

    The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion by Chukwuemeka Ujam (PDP, Enugu), who regretted that the primary aim of establishing DFIs like the Bank of Industry (BoI), the Bank of Agriculture (BoA), the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND), and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) among several others has been defeated.

    According to him, none of the DFIs has been able to meet its mandate of providing long-term financing to the industrial and productive sector of the economy.

    He also said that the DFIs, set up to finance the establishment of large, medium and small scale industries,  as well as facilitate the expansion, diversification and modernization of the existing concerns have failed to carry out their set objectives.

    “It is of concern that despite the huge budgetary provisions being made for these DFIs over the years, their impact in stimulating economic renaissance is yet to be felt as these agencies have seemingly been unable to fulfill their statutory mandares, the resultant effect being the stultification of the nation’s economic growth.

    “I am however convinced that the current economic challenges being experienced in the country can be reversed within the shortest possible time if these DFIs are made to live up to their statutory obligations,” he said.

    The ad hoc committee has six weeks to report back to the House after the motion was unanimously passed.

    Similarly, the House has mandated its Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity to investigate the incidence of casualization and outsourcing of jobs in both private and public sectors of the economy.

    This followed the adoption of a motion by Wale Raji (APC, Lagos), who noted that casualization and outsourcing of jobs negates the provision of Section 7(1) of the Labour Act that no worker should be engaged on probation or temporary employment for more than three months.

    “It is however disturbing that some employers, especially in the banking and sectors, in an attempt to cover up their illegal acts, outsourced jobs to firms to recruit workers for them.

    “We should be concerned about the negative effects of casualization on workers which lead to deprivation of employment benefits and lack of legal status thus making them dispensable at the convenience of the employers”.

    The Committee was given six weeks to report back to the House for further legislative action.

    In a similar development, the House also has also mandated Committees on Commerce as well as Industry to liase with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Trade and Investment to formulate a blueprint that would encourage manufacturers of cellphones, electronics and electrical appliances to site their factories in Nigeria.

    Following the adoption of a motion by Henry Archibong (PDP, Akwa Ibom), the lawmakers pointed out that the  technological, financial and economic gains Nigeria stands to benefit from the localization of the plants and factories of those manufacturers through job creation and reduction of capital flight are immense.

    The mover of the motion said the import duties paid for the importation of the finished items are not commensurate with the skills and manpower training that will be acquired by millions of Nigerians across the country if such plants and factories are sited in Nigeria.

    The joint Committee was given six weeks to complete its assignment.

     

  • Rep dismisses recall plans by constituents

    A member of the House of Representatives, representing Mbaike Federal Constituency of Imo, Mr. Henry Nwawuba said the rumour of his constituents plan to recall him was baseless.

    Nwawuba who stated this while addressing newsmen on Monday in Owerri, said he has not been officially communicated on the issue.

    According to him, those behind the rumour were aggrieved PDP members who had problems with him during the state congress of the party.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that a group under the auspices of Mbaike Movement, had moved a vote of no confidence on Nwawuba during a meeting last week.

    The group claimed that Nwawuba had not carried members of his constituents along since he was elected, and vowed to begin recall procedures against him.

    The group had also accused Nwawuba of poor representation and high handedness.

    Nwawuba, however, dismissed the threat, saying that the group was only expressing their anger on the outcome of the party’s congress.

    According to him, he is representing his constituents well and is carrying everyone along.

    “My constituents have never complained of misrepresentation or high handedness.

    “This is the fallout of the party congress and I want people to disregard the rumor,’’ he said.

  • Dogara involved in money laundering, Jibrin alleges

    Dogara involved in money laundering, Jibrin alleges

    The ousted Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin (APC, Kano ) has alleged the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara to have been involved in cases of money laundering since his (Dogara) Chairmanship of House Services Committee.

    Dogara was House Services Committee Chairman in the 6th and 7th House of Representatives while Jibrin, as a first timer was Finance Committee Chairman in the 7th House.

    Jibrin, in a statement yesterday also alleged the Speaker to have been involved in the car purchase scandals in the House .

    Dogara was Chairman, House Services Committee during the N2.3b car purchase scandal in the 6th House.

    Jibrin, who accused the Speaker  of not distributing the internal budget of the House to any member, said, “He operates the budget in secrecy and no member has a copy

    “Speaker Dogara has supervised the mismanagement of finances of the House through wasteful award of contracts on items already in members offices

    “Speaker Dogara introduced to members a fraudulent mortgage system in the House and proposed illegal deduction from members running costs

    “Speaker Dogara supervised the scandalous car purchase contract in the 7th Assembly where huge sums of money in bribe was alleged

    “Speaker Dogara was involved as Chairman House services in all cases of money laundering associated with the House since 2007.

    “Speaker Dogara in a clear case of conflict of interest has used his office to facilitate loans from an MDA and arrange “private” meetings with MDA’s.”

  • Budget padding: Why Dogara, others are after me –  Jibrin

    Budget padding: Why Dogara, others are after me –  Jibrin

    Former Chairman, Appropriation Committee, House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin disclosed Thursday why the House’s Speaker, Yakubu Dogara and other principal officers of the lower legislative chamber were bent on expelling him.

    Jibrin said he attracted the wrath of the House’s leadership when, as Chairman of the Appropriation Committee he rejected alleged proposals by Dogara and others to corner about N90billion to themselves from the 2016 budget.

    He made this claim in a fresh document he filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja in furtherance of his suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS:595/2016, seeking to among others, restrain the House’s leadership from suspending him from the House.

    Defendants in the suit are the House of Representatives, the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Dogara, Yusuf Lasun (Deputy Speaker), Alhassan Ado Doguwa, Leo Ogor, Herman Hembe, Umar Mohammed Bago, Zakari Mohammed, Chike Okafor, Dan Asuquo, Jagaba Adms, Haliru Jika and Uzoma Abonta.

    In the document filed yesterday, Jibrin, an All Progressives Congress legislator, representing Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency of Kano State, said he had some conflicts with the House’s leadership because he rejected their unlawful directives.

    He said, in the document – a counter affidavit – deposed to on his behalf by one of his lawyers, Nura Abdulrrahman that one of such instances was his “refusal to admit into the nation’s 2016 budget the sum of about N30b.

    “His refusal to cover up the decision of the 3rd to 14th defendants’ (Dogara and others’) unilateral decision to allocate to themselves N40b out of the N100b allocated to the entire National Assembly, in addition to what he (Jibrin) considered as wasteful projects of over N20b to the 3rd – 14th defendants’ constituencies.

    “Even when he (Jibrin) had given the defendants/respondents, especially the 3rd (Dogara) statistics of 2000 new projects introduced into the Appropriation Bill by less than 10 committee members, the 3rd defendant took no decision or corrective.

    “When the inflation of the said budget became a matter of public interest and controversy, the defendant, especially the 3rd -14th started taking measures to avoid responsibility and to place the entire issue on the shoulders of the plaintiff so as to use him (Jibrin) as a scapegoat,” Abdulrrahman said in the counter affidavit filed in response to the defendants’ notice of preliminary objection.

    Jibrin denied claim by Dogara that he (the plaintiff) was removed as the Chair of the House’s Appropriation Committee. He said he voluntarily resigned his position and informed Dogara to that effect on July 20, 2016.

    As against the defendants’ claim in their objection that they were no planning to suspend Jibrin, and that the House did not intend to reconvene before the end of its vacation, Jibrin stated that Dogara and others were plotting to reopen the House and suspend him.

    He urged the court to proceed to determine his case. And grant all his reliefs, which include a declaration that the decision taken by the defendants at a meeting held on August 3, 2016 to suspend the plaintiff as a member of the House of Reps without granting him the right to fair hearing is unlawful.

    He also seeks a declaration that the defendants are bound to comply with the provisions of sections 49, 54, 56 and 60 of the 199 Constitution and the Standing Orders of the House of Reps, regulating its sitting, procedure and other matters in the conduct of its legislative functions as provided in the Constitution and the Standing Orders made pursuant to the Constitution.

    Dogara and others have, in the notice of preliminary objection they filed on Tuesday, urged the court to decline jurisdiction to hear the case and strike it out on the grounds that the suit disclosed “no reasonable cause of action.”

    The Clerk, Appropriation Committee of the House of Representatives, Dr. Abel Ochigbo faulted Jibrin’s claims and stated that there was no plan to suspend him and that no meeting has been held to that effect.

    Ochigbo, who deposed to the affidavit supporting the defendants’ objection, stated that all that were done during the process leading to the passage of the budget was within the law. He added that since the budget has become law, nobody could query the steps taken by the law makers.

    “The 2016 Appropriation Act was duly passed by the National Assembly and assented to by the President of the federal Republic of Nigeria. The issue of any officer of the House taking any decisive action against any particular member or members does not arise as the Appropriation Bill has now become the Appropriation Act.

    “The issue of inflation of the 2016 budget does not arise as the Appropriation Bill was passed by the House of Representatives pursuant to powers vested in the House by the Constitution and in line with the Standing Orders of the House.

    “The Bill was duly certified pursuant to the provisions of the Acts Authentication Act before it was duly assented to by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and it is now being executed as an Act of the National Assembly.”

    Yesterday plaintiff’s lawyer, Abdulamid Mohammed informed the court that the defendants served him with their objection on Wednesday and that he has filed a response. He sought a short stand down of proceedings to enable him retrieve a copy of his response from the court’s Registry.

    Defendants’ lawyer, Kalu Onuoha objected to Mohammed’s request for a stand-down. He sought an adjournment to enable him study the plaintiff’s response and decide whether or not to equally respond.

    Trial judge, Justice Okon Abang noted that since it would be impossible for the court to conclude hearing in the case before the end of the court’s long vacation (September 9) it was unnecessary to commence hearing in the case during vacation.

    Justice Abang, who currently sits as the court’s vacation judge, elected to return the case file to the Chief Judge for reassignment after vacation.

     

  • Edo election: Ex-lawmaker quits SDP

    Edo election: Ex-lawmaker quits SDP

    A former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abubakar Momoh, has resigned his membership of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    Momoh was the SDP candidate for Edo North Senatorial district for last year’s National Assembly election.

    The former lawmaker and his supporters announced their resignation from the SDP after an enlarged meeting of SDP held in Auchi, Headquaters of Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo.

    Momoh told the party supporters that their decision to quit SDP was because the party’s governorship candidate was hand-picked only by the state executives of the party.

    He said they lacked confident of the SDP candidate ability to win the September 10 governorship election.

    Momoh stated that they cannot guarantee their votes for him.

    “We the SDP in Edo North have decided to resign from the party. Our reason is based on the hijack by state executives who produce the candidate without us in Edo North participating.

    “We have form new group which is Momoh Solidarity Movement and we will work with any other candidate of our choice.

    “The candidate of the SDP emergence was only done by the state executive members and for us, he those not have our support,” he said.

    Momoh stated that they would announce a governorship candidate to support and vote for.

    It was gathered that the party may throw its weight behind the candidacy of People’s Democratic Party candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

    Some of the party members present at the meeting said Momoh has already briefed them on who to support.

  • We are not aware of budget padding – Presidency

    We are not aware of budget padding – Presidency

    The budget padding controversy took a different turn on Tuesday as the Presidency denied knowledge of any padding in the budget presented to the President for his ascent.
    Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang and his counterpart in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ismail Kawu told newsmen in Abuja that the budget signed by the President which is being implemented was not a padded budget.
    Senator Enang, who spoke after over three hours meeting with the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said in legislative palace, there was nothing like budget padding, pointing out that when the a budget is presented to the National Assembly, it is expected that they deliberate and pass it as they deem fit.
    The former Chairman of the House committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumini Jubrin, had accused Speaker Yakubu Dogara, his deputy and two other principal officers of being the brain behind the budget padding.
    However, while the controversy rages on, a group lawmakers which identified itself as Transparency Group had accused the executive arm of government of not free from the blame either on the issue.
    Enang however, refused to give details of their meeting with the APC leadership, pointing out that they have all been asked not to make further public comment on the issue as the party was handling it as a family affair.
    He said: “I am here on the invitation of the leadership of the APC with my colleague to bring answers to issues raised by the party on the 2016 Appropriation and we have been with the party for a little over three hours. We have given explanations to them on every issue and told them that there was nothing, to our knowledge, like padding of the budget.
    “The budget as assented to by Mr. President is the budget as passed by the National Assembly and that is the budget being executed.
    “But as of now, the party is handling it as a domestic issue, and all of us are enjoined not to make public comment on the details because the matter is still under consideration.
    “So, that is what we will want to say for now, we will not want to go into the details of it so that we will not breach the ethics of the party, the directives of the party or pre-empt anything or any outcome of the party investigation.”
    Asked whether the Presidency was giving the Leadership of the House of Representatives a clean bill over the issue, he said “I will want to say that we came here as persons who works as liaison officers on the budget because the party had questions for us and we came to make clarifications on the issues raised.
    “We have made those clarifications and would not want to draw any conclusion. Please let us not go too far by mentioning any office. Let it be that the two of us appeared before the party.
    “In all our years of legislative engagement, we are yet to find in the legislative lexicon the word ‘padding’. When the budget is presented before the legislature, the legislature is to consider the budget and pass as they deem fit. So what the legislature pass becomes the appropriation upon accent. Therefore, any word which is yet to crystallize in legislative lexicon, you cannot hear us mention it.”

  • Nwuche sues for peace in Niger Delta

    Nwuche sues for peace in Niger Delta

    Former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Chibudom Nwuche, Tuesday appealed for sustainable peace in the oil rich Niger Delta region in the interest of the country

    He also reassured the people of his resolve to continue to assist in the overall development of the Ekpeye kingdom, Rivers State.

    The former Deputy Speaker spoke in his Abuja office when a group of Ekpeye leaders led by Chief Gowon Okoko and Chief Hon Daniel Igbudu paid him a courtesy visit.

    Nwuche used the opportunity of the visit to appeal to the delegation to continue to prevail on Ekpeye youths to maintain the peace in the interest of the kingdom.

    He noted that though he is aware that “this democratic dispensation since 1999 has not been fair to Ekpeye people because they have not received any democratic dividends, the youths should not on account of the neglect and the obvious poverty in the area resort to criminality and begin to carry arms against themselves and the government.

    Resort to criminality, he said, would “inflict more suffering on the people who were already bearing the brunt of poverty.”

    He urged the people to join hands with the President Muhamadu Buhari administration, assuring that “he is hopeful something positive is going to come the way of Ekpeye people in this present administration and the people will hopefully be patronized and empowered.”

    He pointed out that “very often those that will meet us at the points of our need may not be our blood brothers most times, and may even be total strangers from other tribes”.

    He also used the opportunity to urge the federal government to come to the aid of Ekpeye people and empower them to secure the thousands of oil and gas pipelines criss-crossing Ekpeye land.

    Nwuche regretted the recent insecurity facing Ekpeye in which “over 500 innocent and law abiding citizens have been gruesomely murdered by assassins and cultist.”

    He also said that it is a shame that each time an armed robber, assassin or a kidnapper is arrested, Ekpeye people were always mentioned.

    The situation, he said, has continued to give Ekpeye people a bad name which is not good for the image of the tribe.

    He recalled that Ekpeye people are known for their peaceful disposition and urged the youths and the leaders to maintain this age long identity.

    Nwuche urged the people to work closely with the Ekpeye Monarch, His Royal Majesty Eze Robinson O. Robinson and his council of Chiefs as well as other Ekpeye leaders including security agencies in order to bring peace to Ekpeye land.

    He urged the delegation to work to prevail on the youths involved in one form of criminality or the other to lay down their arms in keeping with the appeal by Eze Robinson O. Robinson who has done a lot to bring peace in Ekpeye land and other well-meaning individuals.

    He noted that but for the efforts of His Majesty Eze Robinson O. Robinson, Ahoada and its environs would have witnessed unprecedented exodus and would have been a ghost town by now.

    The former Deputy Speaker urged the monarch not to be perturbed by the antics of the sponsors of criminal groups who are writing false petitions and accusations against him, but continue in his determination to restore peace in Ekpeye.

    He commended the leaders for their role in ensuring that Ekpeye youths do not engage in disrupting oil activities and blowing up pipelines like youths of other oil producing areas.

    He however urged government to focus on areas who have maintained peace and not only the ones causing problems in order not to be seen to be rewarding criminality and luring  other youths to also bear arms.

    He promised to draw the attention of the concerned oil companies and the relevant government and international agencies to the cases of oil spill that is already taking its toll on Ekpeye people to ensure that the affected spill areas are cleaned up and the environment restored to avoid further damage to human lives, the environment and the fauna and flora.

    The spokesman of the delegation, Chief Gowon Okoko told Nwuche that they were in office to commend him for the selfless and leadership role he has provided to Ekpeye people all these years which has brought about the relative level of development witnessed in the area.

    Chief Okoko also informed Nwuche that they brought him “greetings and goodwill from the Ekpeye monarch His Royal Majesty Eze (Flt Lieut) Robinson O. Robinson CON JP, Eze Ekpeye Logbo II of Ekpeye Kingdom and the entire members of the Ekpeye Council of traditional rulers and Chiefs.”

    The spokesman who drew the attention of the former Deputy Speaker to the poor state of infrastructure in Ekpeye Kingdom noted that the only time the people of the Kingdom witnessed federal government presence in terms of roads, electricity and water projects as enjoyed by Ekpeye people was through his efforts when he was in office as Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives.

    Chief Okoko told Nwuche that they were also in his office to also intimate him of the devastating oil spills that hit several Ekpeye Communities since July 2015 when crude oil spilled from pipeline belonging to Nigeria Agip Oil Company limited (NAOC) destroyed farmlands, ponds, aquatic lives, economic trees, fishing ponds and nets as well other sources of livelihood of the people of Owube community in Ahoada West LGA.

    He said another is a pipeline belonging to Total E&P Nigeria limited which affected Ekpeye communities of Ihuaba, Idoke, Ihuowo, Ihuama, Ogbele, Oshiugboko and Okoma 1 and 2 living along the Sombreiro river whose only source of drinking water, farms, ponds, fishing nets, aquatic lives etc of the communities were badly affected and that all efforts made by these communities to draw the attention of the oil companies have failed as the companies apart from not responding to clean up the spill, have refused to put any measure in place to come to the aid of the affected communities in terms of providing them relief materials and compensation for the inconveniences and losses suffered as a result of the oil spills.

    He urged Nwuche to intervene in the current predicament of the people of the affected communities whose health conditions are deteriorating daily due to the harmful effect of these spills which have remained so for over a year now without any attention by the companies.

    Also speaking, Chief Hon Dan Igbudu commended Prince Chibudom Nwuche for his tireless efforts and selfless service to reposition Ekpeye land for the better and towards restoration of peace in Ekpeye.

    He noted that Nwuche is seen as the beacon of hope for the people; hence the need to identify with him while calling on him to continue his good works for the Ekpeye people.

  • Reps to revoke oil block licences

    Reps to revoke oil block licences

    The House of Representatives has said it will revoke oil block licences of operators who did not follow due process in obtaining their licences.

    The House Ad hoc Committee on Oil Prospecting Licence and Oil Exploration led by Hon. Gideon Wani  spoke yesterday at Idama platform in Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State when the committee visited Belemaoil Producing Limited.

    He also said it would support the people of the Niger Delta to be involved in doing business on petroleum products.

    He said the Committee on Oil Prospecting Licence and Oil Exploration Licence was inugurated to investigate the licensing of oil companies operating in the country.

    He noted that it would be a form of encouragement to retrieve licenses that were not properly obtained by some companies and hand them over to indigenous operators, adding that when such licenses are revoked, they would be given to people from Niger Delta region who have interest oil business.

    Wani said: “We have been mandated by the House of Representatives to investigate all holders of prospecting and exploration licences. We want to know the number of licenses and the number of companies operating with them. We also want to find out if the process of obtaining the licences were followed.

    “Niger Deltans have not been doing business on oil. “We want to return some of this oil blocks to the people of this region. This is to allow people of this area to also do business. Belemaoil is in a good business to do this business because it is owned by somebody from the Niger Delta.”

    Chairman of National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Mr. Sukubo Sara-Igbe, thanked the House for supporting the Niger Delta people.

    Sara-Igbe said if more opportunities were given to the people of the area to do oil business, the agitations in the region would be tamed.

  • Sex Scandal: Allegation based on weak foundation – Minister

    Sex Scandal: Allegation based on weak foundation – Minister

    The former Ambassador to the United States, James E. Entwistle does not have any strong evidence of the alleged sexual misconduct against three members of the House of Representatives, the Minister of Foreign Relations, Geoffrey Onyeama has said.

    According to him, the US government has not pressed charges on the lawmakers and does not intend to.

    This was against his revelation that the Ambassador told him that the Housekeeper, who claimed she was “grabbed” by one of the lawmakers, has refused to testify.

    Onyeama, who spoke before the joint committee of Ethics and Privileges probing the allegation Thursday said the allegation is based on weak foundation, “defamatory and could lead to legal consequences.”

    Hon. Mohammed Garba Gololo (APC, Bauchi), Hon. Samuel Ikon (PDP, Akwa Ibom) and Hon. Mark Gbillah (APC, Benue) who were part of 10 legislators invited by the US government for the International Visitor Leadership Program held between April 7 and 13, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio were accused of sexual misconduct.

    The Committee had deferred to the Minister who had missed two sessions because he was on official duty at the previous chosen dates.

    Onyeama had previously interacted with Entwistle in the matter and the lawmakers had waited for the Entwistle’s side of the story from the Minister.

    Enyeama said in his interaction with the former Ambassador, “he did not present any corroborative evidence and did not give the impression that there are any.

    “He did not make any allegations against the members, he was just saying allegations were made and he confirmed they were made.”

    The minister said there were no testimonies. “The house keeper (who claimed a member grabbed her in the hotel) refused to testify further.”

    Entwistle, he said was surprised that the House Keeper refused to testify.

    “I was surprised that the main complainant failed to testify when approached by her government,” Onyeama added.

    He said the allegation “does not constitute guilt,” but that Entwistle felt an obligation to bring to the attention of the Speaker of the House of Representatives the allegation.

    “He’s not saying they are true or not.”

    But members of the committee wanted to know why the visas of the members accused were cancelled if they were not adjudged guilty.

    “We don’t know the working of the US government. The US have discretion on their visa . They don’t have to give any reason for why they must have taken any step,” the Minister said.

    He however gave an insight on what may have caused the visa cancellations and three years travel ban on the lawmakers, saying there was a meeting in United States Embassy in Abuja prior to the letter by the former Ambassador

    “A group ( of lawmakers) went to the US embassy and it was an acrimonious meeting. The Deputy Ambassador was spoken to in an aggressive manner and voices were raised and the group walked out. The incident would not have encouraged a sympathetic approach.”

    But the affected lawmakers said at the meeting with the Deputy Chief of Mission, Ms. Maria E. Brewer on 8th June, 2016 in which she informed the members about the incident for the first time she was rude and walked out on members twice.

    While answering questions from Ossai Nicholas Ossai on why Entwistle would write a damaging letter to the Speaker when there was no conclusive proof, the minister said the letter was to brief the Speaker on the alleged misconduct so as to ensure that his people do not jeopardize the programme in the future.

    “I will see this more as to remind your members to be sure they don’t put themselves in such a situation as it could lead to Nigeria not participation in such a programme in the future.”

    Onyeama said the Ambassador breached protocol by writing to the Speaker, “the normal channel would be to come through the ministry,” he said.

    When asked by the committee if there was any sanction for such behavior, He said “There is none, we just brought it to his notice.”

    The committee was however shocked to learn that though the event from which the allegation emanated was a government- to- government  programme yet the Minister  said his ministry was not aware, and also that the Nigerian Embassy in America was unaware.

    Nnena Elendu- Ukeje advised the Minister to let all Diplomatic establishments and foreign government be aware of the laws governing Nigeria’s relationship with them.

    The three accused member while rounding off their presentations Thursday said the allegation has affected them negatively and vowed that the issue will be legally pursued to a logical conclusion

    Mark Gbillah specifically started his resolve to fight the issue in a court of law. He also dared the former Ambassador to present facts on the issue.

    “I am calling you out, Mr. Entwistle, you cannot intentionally attempt to destroy my reputation and character and hide behind flimsy excuses; be a man and face me with your facts. I dare you in the name of Jesus Christ,” he said.

  • Sex Scandal: Accused Reps Challenge Entwistle over evidence

    Sex Scandal: Accused Reps Challenge Entwistle over evidence

    Though the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama was absent for the second time running at the hearing of the allegation of sexual misconduct leveled against three members of the House of Representatives, the joint committee nonetheless listened to submissions from the lawmakers.

    The Joint House Committees on Ethics and Privileges and Foreign Affairs also began the investigation Wednesday without presentation or representation from the Ambassador of the United States to Nigeria, James F. Entwistle.

    But the three accused lawmakers not only professed their innocence, they also threatened to commence legal proceedings against the US government and the hotel from which the accusation initially emanated.

    Recall that Hon. Mohammed Garba Gololo (APC, Bauchi), Hon. Samuel Ikon (PDP, Akwa Ibom) and Hon. Mark Gbillah (APC, Benue) who were part of 10 legislators invited by the US government for the International Visitor Leadership Program held between April 7 and 13, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio were accused of sexual misconduct.

    But the lawmakers Wednesday accused Entwistle of falsehood and racial bias, while re- echoing their earlier statements that they were denied fair hearing in the matter.

    Mark Gbillah, one of the accused became misty- eyed at the event after giving his testimony.

    Though the Chairman of the joint Committee Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai said the Minister wrote in to say that he was attending the Federal Executive Council meeting and that he would be in attendant Thursday, he insisted that Entwistle must be present at the hearing.

    Hon. Mohammed Gololo (Bauchi, APC) while presenting his case denied the allegation and described it as unsubstantiated by the US envoy to Nigeria.

    According to him, he never met any hotel attendant in the course of his visit to the United States of America for the programme and that he never had a maid clean his room while he was in Cleveland, Ohio.

    While demanding an apology for being falsely accused, Gololo wondered why the hotel maid he allegedly grabbed did not shout for help.

    He said Entwistle had failed to prove his case. “These postponements (of appearance by minister) are denials in disguise,” he claimed.

    Hon. Mark Gbillah (Benue, APC) while giving his side of the story described the allegation on the sex scandal as a baseless one, adding that he never engaged with a car park attendant to arrange a prostitute  for him.

    He expressed readiness to sue the US Embassy in a law court and claim damages over the allegation, saying the allegation emanated from deep-rooted animosity and disdain for Nigeria and other developing nations, by the United States of America.

    He challenged the US envoy to provide proof to back his allegation that he asked a car park attendant at the hotel to procure the services of a prostitute for him, adding that he was a victim of racial profiling,

    Samuel Ikon (Akwa-Ibom, APC) said he was not involved in any discussion with any hotel car park attendant during the US visit.

    His health condition at that time could not have allowed him solicit for sex. He said the accusation has caused him profound embarrassment and called on Entwistle to provide evidence against him to probe the allegation.

    Ossai adjourned hearing to Thursday saying it would give the Minister of foreign Affairs an opportunity to provide insight into the matter.

    He however insisted that Entwistle must testify at the Thursday hearing.