The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Samuel Ikon

  • Sex scandal: Reps panel shifts hearing to July 20

    The investigative panel set up by the House of Representatives to probe the alleged sex scandal involving three members of the House on Thursday shifted hearing on the matter to July 20.

    The trio of Hon. Mohammed Garba Gololo (APC, Bauchi), Hon. Samuel Ikon (PDP, Akwa Ibom) and Hon. Mark Gbillah (APC, Benue), who were among 10 legislators invited by the United States Government  to a leadership training programmed  in Cleveland, Ohio, were accused of engaging in illicit sexual activities by the U.S Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle.

    Gbillah’s wife, Sophia, was seen at the hearing with a baby on Thursday.

    The U.S ambassador, who was invited by the House members to testify on the matter, was consciously absent at the hearing.

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, who had reportedly interacted with the U.S Ambassador on the issue, was also absent at the sitting.

    The minister, however, sent a letter to the lawmakers, informing them he would be absent at the hearing.

    The letter reads:

    ” 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.

    “I would however be pleased to appear before the Committee at any other time after my return from Kigali on 19th July 2016.”

     

  • Sex scandal: Dogara to meet U.S Ambassador Thursday

    Sex scandal: Dogara to meet U.S Ambassador Thursday

    The Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, will on Thursday meet the outgoing United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, over the allegation of sexual misconduct levelled against three members of the House.

    Investigative public hearing on the scandal begins on Thursday and Entwistle is expected to provide video clips of the incident.

    The incident allegedly occurred during the International Visitor Leadership Programme held in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S, between April 7 and April 13 and attended by 10 members of the lower chamber.

    The Chairman of House Committee on Ethics and Privileges, Nicholas Ossai, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the committee did not invite management of the hotel where the alleged misconduct occurred.

    According to him, we decided not to extend invitation to the hotel management since the Ambassador who broke the information through a letter to the speaker has documentary evidence against the three lawmakers.

    The three lawmakers involved in the allegation are Mohammed Gololo (APC-Bauchi), Samuel Ikon (PDP-Akwa Ibom) and Mark Gbillah (APC-Benue).

    They allegedly solicited sex from prostitutes and grabbed hotel housekeeper in a bid to rape her.

    Ossai said the committee had also invited the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) and National Human Rights Commission.

    He said the committee did not carry out any secret investigation, urging anyone with useful information to submit same to the committee on or before commencement of the hearing.

     

  • Sex scandal: I have proof that will clear my name – Ikon

    One of the three members of the House of Representatives accused of soliciting for prostitutes in the United States of America while on a leadership training program, Samuel Ikon, has said he has irrefutable proof that will clear him name.

    Ikon, in a letter dated 16th June 2016 and addressed to Mr. James F. Entwistle, the Ambassador of the United States to Nigeria said he was pained by the allegation which he said was untrue.

    “let me state unequivocally sir that the allegation is not just false but in bad taste. I Hon. Samuel Ikon never in that trip, nor on any other trip to the US or anywhere else in the world, consort or sought to consort with prostitutes.”

    He said the act would not only be inimical to his health but totally unacceptable to his faith.

    “I’m an elder in my church since 2006 and clearly know the tenets and doctrines of my faith one of which abhors such desires for prostitutes as such very offensive to be linked.

    “I have no reason to seek comfort in the bosom of a prostitute with all attendant health risks especially the latest known as Zika Virus which has entered the USA.

    “I have another proof of my innocence which will completely tear down this false conclusion but will leave it out for a later time should you fail to redeem my integrity and I’m forced to take legal action.”

    “I therefore urge that you review this case within 7 days taking a more detailed look at evidences available for such like video recording, especially video showing time and date of such discussion, so you can realize a mistake has been made here and my integrity restored, else I will be seeking legal redress in competent courts of law both in Nigeria and in the US.”

  • Count me out of U.S sex scandal – Rep

    Mr. Samuel Ikon, one of the three House of Representatives members accused of sexual indiscretion in the United States, has dismissed the allegation as untrue, saying his identity had been mistaken.

    Ikon, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker representing Etinan/Nsit Ibom/Nsit Ubium Constituency of Akwa Ibom, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday that the allegation was in bad taste.

    The U.S Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, had on Wednesday petitioned the House of Representatives, alleging that Ikon and two other lawmakers solicited sex from prostitutes in Cleveland, Ohio, recently.

    The lawmaker said he was at a loss as to what the U.S envoy intended to achieve with the allegation, insisting that he had been mistakenly dragged into a matter he knew nothing about.

    Ikom said he was happy that the lower chamber had commenced investigation into the matter and expressed confidence that he would be cleared.

    The lawmaker also said he had briefed his lawyers to initiate legal and diplomatic steps to get to the root of the matter “to clear my name and the institution I represent.”

    Condemning the allegation by the ambassador, Ikon said, “I wish to state unequivocally that this is false and definitely not me.
    “This, to me is a case of mistaken identity and I will be vindicated. I have initiated measures both legal and diplomatic to clear my name and the institution I represent.

    “There are many questions left unanswered by the actions of the U.S mission but I believe it will become clearer in the course of time.”

    He urged his constituents and Nigerians to be patient as the truth would be unveiled, adding that God would vindicate him.

  • Akwa Ibom speaker clinches ticket

    Akwa Ibom speaker clinches ticket

    AKWA Ibom Speaker, Samuel Ikon, has won the House of Representatives ticket for Etinan Federal Constituency.

    Ikon defeated the incumbent member representing the constituency, Hon. Dan Akpan, by 79 votes to 7.

    Results of the primaries for other seats are still being awaited as of the time of filing this report.