US interrogates 10 Nigerian lawmakers over allegations of sexual misconduct

United States of America (USA) has reportedly interrogated 10 lawmakers who attended International Visitors Leadership Programme in Cleveland, Ohio, United States.

The lawmakers were interrogated by officials of the US State Department over allegations of sexual misconduct against three of their colleagues.

According to the allegation levelled against the lawmakers, Honourables Mark Gbillah and Samuel Ikon were accused of soliciting for sex during the trip by the US ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle.

Entwistle in a petition addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, said some of the lawmakers attempted grabbing a hotel housekeeper in a bid to rape her while others solicited for sex from prostitutes.

Other lawmakers in the House of Reps on the trip included the deputy chairman of the committee on media and public Affairs, Jonathan Gaza Gbewfi; chairman of the committee on diaspora affairs, Rita Orji; Ayo Omidiran, Nkole Ndukwe and Danburam Abubakar.

The report negates the claims by the lawmakers that the allegations were brought to their attention when they returned to Nigeria.

According to the report, the state department is in possession of more than just verbal evidence against the three men.

The accused lawmakers have since denied the allegations against them, while threatening legal action against the US government. 

Dogara had referred the case to the House committee on ethics and privileges and foreign affairs to investigate the issue.