Speaker Yakubu Dogara

The Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara said on Saturday that apart from the letter forwarded to his office, there was no any evidence provided by the United States Embassy to link three members of the house it  accused of attempted rape with the scandal during a trip to United States.

The Speaker however promised that the House will investigate the rape allegations while insisting however that there “can be no conviction without a trial.’’

The Speaker who spoke in a statement issued by Turaki Hassan, his Special Adviser and Public Affairs on Saturday in Abuja therefore urged Nigerians to refrain from passing judgment on the three lawmakers accused of sexual misconduct, saying they remain innocent until proved guilty.

Dogara asked Nigerians to wait for the outcome of investigation into the alleged misconduct.

The Speaker said that judgment could only be passed when the allegation was proved.

“As ambassadors of the House and indeed, the entire country, the members in the middle of the scandal have known not to bring dishonour to the institution they represent.

“The House would conduct an investigation into allegations together with the US Embassy in Nigeria and we will get to the bottom of this matter,’’ Dogara said.

“The lawmakers have said that they are prepared to defend themselves at their own cost.

“However, the attempted rape allegation was not alluded to in the letter I received. We await the result of the investigation into the matter,’’ Dogara said. (NAN)