Sex Scandal: Speaker Dogara challenges America to prove allegation against Nigerian lawmakers

As the allegation of sexual misconduct against three Nigerian lawmakers by the United States Government continues to draw public fury, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has asked America to provide fool-proof evidence that the lawmakers indeed committed the crimes.

A lawmaker, Mohammed Gololo (APC-Bauchi State) was accused of grabbing a hotel maid and soliciting sex, while two others, Samuel Ikon (PDP-Akwa Ibom) and Mark Gbillah (APC-Benue State) allegedly requested a car park attendant to help them arrange the services of prostitutes during a visit to Cleveland for the International Visitor Leadership Programme.

The allegations were contained in a June 9 petition to Mr. Dogara by American Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle.

The three lawmakers denied the allegations separately describing them as “totally false”, “calculated attempt to rubbish the National Assembly” and “a case of mistaken identity.”

In a series of tweets on Saturday, Mr. Dogara commented on the allegations, as he responded to questions thrown at him by Nigerians.

“He who alleges must prove,” he said via his Twitter handle @speakerdogara. “That’s the law.”

“As we speak no evidence has been put forward other than the letter sent to my office and copied to many others.

“Together with the US Embassy in Nigeria we will get to the bottom of this matter and until then let’s not be judgemental.

“Under our laws an accused person is deemed innocent until proven guilty and he enjoys the benefit of any doubt.

“Social media trial and conviction of members alleged to have committed the offence is taking up arms against our laws,” tweeted an “awfully embarrassed” Mr. Dogara.