The Office of the President of the Senate has countered fresh allegations made by former Senator Elisha Abbo, describing them as baseless and malicious.
Abbo, who was sacked from the Senate following a judicial ruling, has once again accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of orchestrating his removal.
However, Akpabio’s media aide, Rt. Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, in a statement on Thursday, refuted these claims, emphasizing that the Senate President had no involvement in the legal process that led to Abbo’s ouster.
However, aside the accusation, the former Adamawa North had accused Akpabio of putting suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, in grave danger by withdrawing her security details.
Abbo claimed the suspension was not only politically motivated but also deliberately designed to expose her to harm.
Speaking on Arise News’ PrimeTime show, Abbo criticized Akpabio’s decision, stating:
“He sat like an emperor and ordered her suspension, stopped her salary, barred her from the National Assembly, and even instructed the Inspector General of Police not to provide her with security. In another way, he exposed her to be killed.”
Abbo questioned why Natasha was punished so severely while Akpabio himself had clashed with former Senate President Bukola Saraki in the 8th Assembly without facing suspension.
However, Hon Eyiboh statement said,
“It is sad and regrettable that despite publicly retracting a similar allegation in 2023, Mr. Abbo has returned to the same baseless claims he previously renounced,” the statement read.
The Senate Presidency reaffirmed that Abbo lost his seat due to a Court of Appeal ruling, which found that his election was invalid. “The court acted in accordance with the Constitution and the rule of law. Senator Akpabio, as a seasoned lawyer and democrat, upholds the independence of the judiciary and would never interfere in its processes,” the statement added.
Addressing Abbo’s claims regarding unpaid salaries and benefits, the Senate Presidency clarified that financial disbursements follow due process and that any claims that did not meet legal and administrative standards would not have reached Akpabio’s desk for approval.
The statement further criticized Abbo’s history of public misconduct, recalling his 2019 assault on a female citizen, for which he was fined ₦50 million by a competent court.
“It is unfortunate that instead of accepting the consequences of his legal and political failings, Mr. Abbo resorts to media theatrics and reckless finger-pointing,” Eyiboh said.
The Senate President reaffirmed his commitment to nation-building and strengthening democratic institutions, urging Abbo to “respect the rule of law and focus on rebuilding the confidence of his constituents if he hopes to return to public life.”
