The senator representing Adamawa North Senatorial District in Adamawa State was caught on video assaulting Osimibibra Warmate at a sex toy shop in Wuse 2, Abuja.

Abbo won the criminal case instituted against him by the police before a Chief Magistrate Court in Zuba but Warmate filed a civil suit and Justice Samira Bature of the FCT High Court ruled against Abbo on September 28, 2020, and ordered him to pay N50m and publish an apology to his victim.

However, Abbo has appealed the judgement. He says the facts of the case disclosed an “alleged tort of simple assault” and not torture or inhuman treatment.

Abbo anchored his appeal on three premises: that the judge erred in law when he dismissed his preliminary objection to the effect that the suit was not recognisable under Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution and the fundamental rights enforcement procedure; that the facts of the case were contentious and could not be determined via affidavit evidence; that the trial judge erred when he held that the applicant had proved her case as required by law whereas the evidence was not in her favour.

Abbo, who represents Adamawa North in the National Assembly, was arraigned on July 8, 2019, for allegedly assaulting a nursing mother, Mrs. Warmate Osimibibra.

At the resumed hearing, the police counsel, James Idachaba, and Abbo were not in court.

The defense counsel, Mr. Isaac Adeniyi, apologized for the absence of the defendant, saying he had health challenges. Adeniyi said the dates suggested by the prosecution were not convenient to him.  In his ruling, the Presiding Magistrate Abdullahi Illelah adjourned the matter until Feb. 6 for a continuation of trial.

Philip Tumba who is said to be from the legal department of the FCT Police Command told the court that the prosecution counsel was attending a meeting with the Inspector-General of Police. Tumba also said there was a letter of adjournment from the police, which was filed at the court registry on Wednesday but not served on the defense.

Abbo is standing trial for assaulting a nursing mother at a sex toy shop in Abuja sometime in May.

His counsel, Adegbite Adeniyi, told the court that the Senator is ill and could not make it to court today. He said ”My Lord my client is suffering from Acute Febrile”

Adeniyi presented a medical report to the court and claimed Abbo was on admission in a hospital in Yola, Adamawa.

The Magistrate, Abdullahi Ilelah, adjourned the case until September 24th for hearing.

Senator Abbo was arraigned in court today on a one-count of assault which he pleaded not guilty. He was arraigned by the Federal Capital Territory police at Zuba Magistrate Court, Abuja after a video of him assaulting a woman went viral.

The case has since been adjourned to July 22nd for hearing.

The Senate had set up a bi-partisan adhoc committee headed by a former governor of Ebonyi State, Sam Egwu, to probe the action of the Peoples Democratic Party Senator.

It was learnt that police detectives had been able to establish a prima facie case against the lawmaker. Apart from the evidence deduced from the video , which showed Abbo repeatedly slapping his victim for intervening in an argument between him and the shop owner , the admission by the Senator in a statement last week was also said to have added to the weight of evidence against him.

The embattled Senator, who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party representing Adamawa North Senatorial District, slapped a saleswoman at an adult toy shop in Abuja.

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan , constituted the panel following a point of order raised by the Senator representing Kaduna Central, Uba Sani.

The President of the Senate confirmed that he had been inundated with calls from concerned Nigerians within and outside the country asking the Senate to explain what happened. Lawan said it would be unfair on either the Senator or the assaulted lady if the Senate should pass a judgment immediately based on the viral video clip. He, therefore, asked the ad hoc committee to probe the issue critically by inviting both parties and submit its report within two weeks

In a Facebook post , AI said, “ Senator Elisha Abbo (Adamawa North) who took three ladies shopping for sex toys in Abuja , assaulted a nursing mother , in the presence of policemen. This must be investigated . The lawmaker must face justice . The victims must be protected from his promise of more violence .”