By Olakunle Olafioye

SPEAKER of the Federal House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has challenged the United States of America to substantiate the allega­tions against three Nigerian lawmak­ers accused of sexual offences during their visit to the country few weeks ago.

The Speaker, while reacting to questions by Nigerians over the issue on his twitter handle, speakerdogara, said no evidence had been received on the allegation beyond the letter in which the lawmakers were accused of committing the offences.

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

The Speaker who noted that an ac­cused person was presumed innocent until proven guilty said, “social me­dia trial and conviction of the mem­bers alleged to have committed the offence is taking up arms against our laws.

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

Three Nigerian lawmakers – Mr. Mohammed Garba-Gololo (Bauchi State); Mr. Terse Gbillah (Benue State), and Mr. Samuel Ikon (Cross River State) were accused of com­mitting sexual offences during a trip to the US to participate in the Interna­tional Visitor Leadership Programme on Good Governance organised by the US government.

The three lawmakers were mem­bers of a team of 10 lawmakers nominated to attend the leadership programme, which took place in Cleveland, Ohio, between April 7 and 13 this year.

US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle had in a letter dat­ed June 9 to the Speaker, accused Mr.Garba Gololo of grabbing a hotel worker and soliciting sex from her, while Mr. Mark Terseer Gbillah and Samuel Ikon allegedly requested that hotel parking attendants assist them to solicit prostitutes.

But the three lawmakers have consistently denied the allegation with Mr. Ikon insisting his reported involvement is a case of mistaken identity. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dog­ara, had last Thursday, directed the investigation of the three members over the allegations.