The Office of the President of the Senate has strongly rejected recent allegations made by Elisha Abbo, the former Senator for Adamawa North, accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of influencing the court ruling that led to his removal from office.
In a statement released on Thursday by Rt. Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, the Senate President’s office described Abbo’s accusations as “baseless and malicious.”
Abbo’s removal followed a ruling by the Court of Appeal, which determined that he was not validly elected to the Senate.
The statement pointed out that in 2023, Abbo had already retracted similar allegations after admitting that his initial claims were “premature and based on incomplete information.”
The Senate President’s office also highlighted that after a discussion between Akpabio and Abbo, the former Senator had accepted that the Senate President had “no involvement” in the legal process that resulted in his ouster.
“The court ruling that led to Abbo’s removal followed a thorough legal process, fully in line with the Constitution,” the statement emphasized. It added that Senator Akpabio, a seasoned lawyer, has always respected the independence of the judiciary and would never interfere in judicial matters.
Abbo has also claimed he was unfairly denied salaries, allowances, and an official vehicle after his removal.
However, the Senate President’s office clarified that any financial claims not processed were due to not meeting the legal and administrative requirements, not due to any interference from Akpabio.
Additionally, the statement reminded the public of Abbo’s controversial history, particularly a 2019 incident where he was seen on video assaulting a woman.
The incident resulted in a court order for Abbo to pay N50 million in damages.
The statement concluded by urging Abbo to reflect on his actions, rebuild trust with his constituents, and focus on positive contributions to public life.
It reaffirmed Senator Akpabio’s commitment to strengthening democratic institutions and upholding the rule of law.