Petition For Immediate Investigation Of Allegation Of Attempted Rape And Improper Conduct Of Three (3) Members Of The House Of Representatives By The US Government

His Excellency,
President Muhammadu Buhari,
President and Commander in Chief,
Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Presidential Villa,
FCT, Abuja.
Your Excellency and Dear Sir,
PETITION FOR IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION OF ALLEGATION OF ATTEMPTED RAPE AND IMPROPER CONDUCT OF THREE (3) MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BY THE US GOVERNMENT

With humility Sir, I have the mandate of the governing board of the Committee for the Protection of Peoples Mandate (CPPM) to bring to your notice for urgent attention and investigation, allegations of criminality of attempted rape, improper conduct and indecent behavior leveled by the Government and people of the United States of America through its ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Mr. James Entwistle via a petition addressed to the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives Honourable Yakubu Dogara, dated June 9th 2016 and widely reported in the media both locally and internationally against three (3) out of the ten (10) member delegation of the House of Representatives, namely Deputy Chairman, Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Mr. Mark Gbillah ( APC, Benue); Mr. Samuel Ikon (PDP, Akwa Ibom); and Mr. Mohammed Garba-Gololo (APC, Bauchi), while on official trip to the US.

Sir, in the petition of alledged criminality and improper conduct against three (3) out of a ten (10) member delegation of “Honourable” members addressed to the Speaker by the US government, it was stated that they were in the United States of America at the instance of the US Government invitation as participants in the International Visitor Leadership Programme on good governance which is a US Government’s flagship professional exchange programme. Thus, he stated that it was in the course of this programme, that “The US Department of State and the Cleveland Council on World Affairs received reports from employees of Cleveland hotel where the representatives stayed, alledging the above stated criminal and embarrassing conduct” (New Telegraph, June 16^th, 2016). Words in italics is a summary and not in publication.

We regard this allegations as an international embarrassment, grave, injurious, indecorous, assault and damaging not only to the image of the mentioned members of the House of the Representatives as representatives of our bastion of democracy, the legislature, but also to the collective integrity and honour of the Nigerian people as represented by the honourable members. Therefore, we demand an immediate investigation of this National embarrassment by the security agencies which are statutorily established to perform such functions.

We are also very saddened by the alledged complicity of other members of the delegation as stated by the US ambassador in his petition that, “In addition, most of the members of this group reacted very negatively to my deputy when she brought this matter to their attention, further calling into question their judgement and commitment….. Which might lead us to question whether to include National Assembly members for other similar programmes in the future”. (New Telegraph, June 16^th, 2016).

Therefore, we want it placed on record that we reject in its entity, any attempt by the House of Representatives to investigate this allegations of criminality leveled against its members because it runs counter to logic, rationality and natural justice for one to be a judge in his or her own case. We don’t have confidence that the course of justice will be served by the House of Representatives investigative committee.

In view of the above, we demand the following:

1. Immediate investigation of these allegations of criminality and improper conduct by the US Government against the Nigerian people as represented by the three legislators must be conducted by the security agencies.
2. Immediate suspension of the three (3) mentioned members from the plenary session of the House of House Representatives by the House for bringing its image and that of the Nigerian people into public opprobrium until investigation is concluded and appropriate sanctions implemented.
3. Immediate suspension of the other seven (7) members of the delegation from plenary session by the House of Representatives for being an accessory to the commission of an alledged crime by not informing the House of this development until the petition from the US Government.
4. That the report of this investigation be made public in order to send out a clear signal that acts of criminality and indecent behavior is unacceptable and intolerable by the Nigerian Government and people.
5. That both the Federal Government and the House of Representatives should ensure remedy according to the constitution and rules of the House of any infraction of the law and our image by indicted violators and their collaborators.
6. Tendering of public apology by the Nigerian Government and the House of Representatives to the Government and people of US for the criminality and indecent conduct of this members if found guilty and demand of same from the US Government, if investigation prove otherwise.

Please be assured Your Excellency and Dear Sir, of our utmost loyalty and cooperation.

Thanks.
Yours Sincerely,
Nelson Ekujumi.
Cc:

1. The Honourable Yakubu Dogara,

Honourable Speaker,
House of Representatives,
National Assembly Complex,
FCT, Abuja.

1. Mr. Solomon Arase,

1. The Attorney General and Minister of Justice,

Federal Ministry of Justice,
Federal Secretariat,
FCT, Abuja.

1. The Honourable Minister,

Federal Ministry of External Affairs,
Federal Secretariat,
FCT, Abuja.

1. The Chairman,

National Assembly Complex,
FCT, Abuja.