Mr. Sam Ikon, one of the lawmakers named in the sex scandal involving three members of the Nigerian House of Representatives has refuted the allegations against him in a letter to the US ambassador to Nigeria.
In his letter, made available to the Nigerians press, Sam Ikon, claims that he is suffering a medical condition and undergoing treatment that has put him in a condition where he cannot have sex and, as such, he could not have sought the company of a prostitute as alleged.
The house of representatives member, who represents Etinan/Nsit Ibom/Nsit Ubium constituency and is also a former speaker of the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, said that he almost missed the trip to the United States in April 2016 because he had malaria and typhoid.
The lawmaker also said he was treating high levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) and could not have sex even if he wanted to. In the letter, Sam Ikon promised to make the evidence of his claims available.
The lawmaker also wondered why he was not given a fair hearing in the matter.
The Trent had reported that Mr. James Entwistle, the United States ambassador to Nigeria, had written to Nigeria’s speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara alleging that three Nigerian lawmakers, Mohammed Garba Gololo of Bauchi State, Mark Terseer Gbillah, of Benue State, and Samuel Ikon of Akwa Ibom State, have been accused of attempted rape by groping a hotel staff and soliciting prostitutes in the parking lot of the hotel while on official business in the United States.
In an earlier reaction, Mr. Sam Ikon said that the allegations are not true and that they are in “bad taste” and “a case of mistaken identity” as he urged for “patience, prayers, and God’s wisdom at this time”.
Samuel Ikon is being accused along with another Nigerian lawmaker, Mark Gbillah of Benue of of soliciting prostitutes during a trip to Cleveland, Ohio in April 2016.
Mark Gbillah, representing Benue Gwer East/Gwer West in the Nigerian house of representatives, has equally denied the allegations and demanded that the US government provide video evidence of his alleged sexual misconduct or he would sue the US for ‘tarnishing his name’.
Gbillah made this demand in a letter to the United States Embassy.
“I was shocked. I was embarrassed. There is nothing as such that has happened,” the other Nigerian lawmaker mentioned who was specifically accused of groping a hotel staff, Mohammed Gololo said to BBC in reaction to the allegations. He also described the allegations as “false” and “unfounded”.
Gololo threatened to sue the United States government and suggested that he was willinging to return to Cleveland to “clear his name”.
Yakubu Dogara, Nigeria’s speaker has ordered an inquiry into the allegation and also cautioned that the three lawmakers are innocent until proven guilty.
A spokesperson said the US Embassy does not comment on “private diplomatic correspondence”.
Sam Ikon writes – full text of the letter
James F. Entwistle
Ambassador of United State of America
Abuja, Nigeria.
Sir,
It is with a deep sense of sadness and great hurt that I write to respond to a letter dated June 9, 2016 addressed to the Rt. Hon. Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria, copied to me and signed by you, alleging that I, Hon. Samuel Ikon, with Hon. Mark Gbillah requested hotel parking attendants assist us solicit prostitutes.
Let me state unequivocally sir that this allegation is not just false, but in bad taste. I Hon. Samuel Ikon never on that trip, nor on any trip to the US or anywhere in this world, ever sought to consort with prostitutes. This act would not only be inimical to my health, but totally unacceptable to my faith.
May I draw your attention Mr. Ambassador to the fact that I almost did not make that trip due to my state of health, a situation that was well known to your mission accompanying staff Mrs. Victoria Ibi. Even at the airport before our departure, I still was not sure but travelled due to the deep respect and appreciation I had at the time for the US government nominating me for the program on one hand, and the fact that I carried necessary medication for the Malaria and Typhoid that I was diagnosed of.
Mr. Ambassador, I was miserable throughout our stay in Washington DC and only got a bit stable in Cleveland when the medication began to kick in. Secondly, I was at the same time on medication to reduce my PSA level which tests in February this year had indicated a disturbing increase thus the issue of sex was totally ruled out for me in view of my health (laboratory results available if needed). I therefore find it funny and unacceptable to be so linked as in your letter.
I have another proof of my innocence which wiII completely tear down this false conclusion but will leave it out for a later time should you fail to redeem my integrity and I am forced to take legal action.
I wish to categorically state that at no time did I either alone, or in the company of Hon. Mark Gbillah a gentlemen with impeccable moral standing, approach any parking lot staff or any hotel staff for that matter to assist me solicit for prostitutes. It never happened nor was ever intended or thought of.
I have been in the legislature in the past nine (9) years and has attended over 30 conferences, seminars and meetings in about 20 countries globally and has never sought for a prostitute in any of these countries including the USA. I was in New York for a UN hearing on Narcotics in February for 4 days and never sought for a prostitute. My impeccable record of accomplishment is there to be seen. I have done programs in Harvard and Stanford Universities in the US and completed them successful without an incident or request for prostitutes.
I am an Elder in my Church since 2006 and clearly knows the tenets and doctrines of my faith one of which abhors such desires for prostitutes as such very offensive to be so linked.
His Excellency sir, let me inform you that I am happily married to a woman who is a mother, friend and confidant to me for twenty (20) years now and I have no reason to seek comfort in the bosom of a prostitute with all the attendant health risks especially the latest known as Zika Virus which has entered the USA.
Mr Ambassador, I therefore find this false allegation condemnable, repugnant and totally unacceptable to me.
Most distressing is the statement in your letter that your mission took pains to confirm this allegation and my identity. How sad. How can you confirm it to be my identity when I never had such an encounter with any hotel staff.
Moreover, how did you come to such conclusion without any fair hearing as you never sought my own view or account. Not driving a car myself, what would I be doing at the parking lot area, to then meet a staff there for such discussions?
May I draw your Excellency’s attention to how he would feel or react if after a meeting, say in the state department in Washington DC, he returns to Abuja only to receive a letter two months later that he sought to consort with prostitutes whilst in DC, an allegation His Excellency knows is false because he never did such . That’s exactly how I feel now.
(I) I never sought anyone’s help to get prostitutes .
(2) I never had need for prostitutes.
(3) My health situation especially at the time could not have allowed such desires.
(4) My faith abhors such desires.
(5) I have never desired a prostitute .
I wish to draw your attention to the fact that it was myself and Hon. Mark Gbillah that sought to travel with our wives but your mission advised against it yet my reason for wanting to travel with my wife was because of my health condition at the time of the trip.
His Excellency sir, kindly note that I attended every session of the program from day 1 to the last, missing only a lunch date due to my medication time.
Worthy to note is the fact that there was a basketball match that period and the hotel had a lot of guests as such this may be a case of mistaken identity. I couldn’t even attend the game due to my state of health as my body couldn’t stand the chill weather for long.
I therefore urge that you review this case within 7 days taking a more detailed look at the evidences available for such like video recordings especially audio showing time and date of such discussions. So you can realize that a mistake has been made here and my integrity restored, else I will be seeking legal redress in competent courts of law both in Nigeria and in the US.
I am olive and not dead. I am sane and capable of knowing what I did, said and who I met. As such cannot accept this false allegation by your mission on my person and reputation built over the years.
Mr. Ambassador sir, United States is held in high esteem for its providing platforms for liberties and the rule of law. It’s my hope that these beliefs will not fade in my sight due to this great injustice.
On the issue of revocation of Visas, I wish to state that until my name is cleared and apologies tendered , I have no intention to visit a country where I can be so easily accused and adjudged so, without any fair hearing as such you need not worry.
Your Excellency, I am confident that you will take steps to address my response to your letter as it will be most unfair to taint my reputation, carrier and psych by o false and untrue allegation.
It is sad that this false allegation has gone to the press and now in the public domain further tarnishing my image and reputation. I hope you will address this aspect properly when the issue is fully resolved.
While awaiting your action in this regard, be assured of my highest regards.
Yours faithfully,
Rt. Hon. Samuel Ikon
The Envoy’s Letter
A team of ten Nigerian lawmakers visited Cleveland, Ohio for the International Visitor Leadership Programme on good governance which held between April 7 and 13, 2016.
In a letter to Mr. Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the Nigerian house of representatives, James Entwistle, the United States ambassador to Nigeria reportedly accused two of the lawmakers of soliciting prostitutes during an official visit to the US.
“Mark Terseer Gbillah [Benue] and Samuel Ikon [Akwa Ibom] allegedly requested hotel parking attendants assist them to solicit prostitutes,” the US ambassador wrote.
In the letter dated June 9, 2016, exclusively obtained by New Telegraph, third lawmaker, Mohammed Garba Gololo of Bauchi State is accused of attempting to rape a staff of the hotel in Cleveland, where he stayed during the trip.
“Mohammed Garba Gololo allegedly grabbed a housekeeper in his hotel room and solicited her for sex,” Entwistle wrote. “While the housekeeper reported this to her management, this incident could have involved local law enforcement and resulted in legal consequences for Representative Gololo.”
“The U.S. Mission took pains to confirm these allegations and the identities of the individuals with the employees of the hotel in Cleveland.
“The conduct described above left a very negative impression of Nigeria, casting a shadow on Nigeria’s National Assembly, the International Visitor Leadership Program, and to the American hosts’ impression of Nigeria as a whole.
“Such conduct could affect some participants’ ability to travel to the United States in the future,” the letter said.
