The House of Representatives is seeking an audience with the United States Ambassador in Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, after the envoy shunned Thursday’s investigative public hearing by the House on the alleged sexual misconduct by three of its members during a recent visit to the U.S.
The decision to meet Entwistle was a reversal to the House insistence on Thursday that the ambassador must attend the hearing now rescheduled for July 20.
The envoy shunned the public hearing citing diplomatic immunity.
The investigation was triggered by a June 9 petition by Entwistle to Speaker Yakubu Dogara in which he accused Mohammed Garba Gololo (Bauchi), Samuel Ikon (Akwa Ibom) and Mark Gbillah (Benue) of attempted rape and soliciting sex from prostitutes during official visit to his country last April.
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The Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas, told journalists on Friday that the House will ”go to the Ambassador” if necessary in a bid to get to the root of the matter.
It was gathered that the House had just come to the realization that the ambassador could not be summoned by the House on account of his immunity.
The Chairperson of the House Committee on Foreign Relations, Elendu- Ukeje, drew attention to the Vienna Convention which precludes an Ambassador from being summoned by his host country’s legislature.
He proposed that the best option was to allow the Minister of Foreign Affairs provide an enabling platform for interaction between the committee and Entwistle.
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