THE Nigerian Senate has set up a committee to probe Elisha Ishaku Abbo of the People’s Democratic Party, representing Adamawa North Senatorial District, for an alleged assault of a woman at an adult toy shop in Abuja.
The Inspector General of Police, Mohammad Adamu, in the same vein, has ordered the arrest of the senator, according to Frank Mba, Police Spokesperson on Wednesday.
The 41-year-old Abbo, according to a video clip that went viral on the social media on Tuesday, was caught in a sex toy shop in May physically assaulting a woman after she pleaded with him not to abuse the shopowner whom the senator had earlier accused of insulting him. The Senator called a policeman to arrest the shopowner. While the senator was beating up the woman who had pleaded with him to calm down, the police officer made no attempt to stop him. Rather, he attempted to arrest the victim.
The incident happened months after the Abbo won a senatorial seat at the upper legislative arm and a month to his swearing-in in June 11 as a member of the 9th National Assembly. He had gone to the shop to make purchases of adult toys.
The assault has sparked outrage on social media where many Nigerians have called for justice for the victim.
In response to the incident, Ahmed Lawan, Nigerian Senate President has set-up a committee to investigate the issue. Lawan announced the bipartisan committee on Wednesday in Abuja following a point of order that was raised on the matter by Uba Sanni of the All Progressives Congress (APC), representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District.
The committee has two weeks to submit its report, Lawan mentioned. He added that the matter would be investigated and all sides would be given a fair hearing, even while it remains an allegation.
To also address the issue, IGP has also ordered the arrest of Abbo. The police said investigations are currently ongoing by an investigative team set up by the Police Force headquarters in Abuja.
Nigerian Police Force says “they are doing everything within their powers to restore dignity to the force”.
“Let me re-assure that the Nigerian Police will not sit back idly and watch the right of Nigerians trampled in any way. We hold our loyalty to the Constitution, law, and people of this country. And this we will defend,” said the Police.