The Office of the President of the Senate has dismissed recent allegations by Elisha Abbo, the former Senator representing Adamawa North, claiming that Senate President Godswill Akpabio was responsible for the court decision that led to his removal from office.
In a statement issued on Thursday by Rt. Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, the Senate President’s office refuted the claims made by Abbo, describing them as “baseless and malicious.”
The former senator had previously been ousted following a ruling by the Court of Appeal, which determined that he was not validly elected.
The statement reminded the public that in 2023, Abbo had retracted similar accusations after admitting that his original claims were “premature and based on the available information.”
The Senate President’s office further emphasized that after a conversation with Akpabio, Abbo himself acknowledged that the Senate President had “no involvement” in the judicial process.
The court ruling, which led to Abbo’s removal, was made following a thorough legal process and was in full compliance with the Constitution.
“Akpabio, a seasoned lawyer, has long maintained his respect for the independence of the judiciary and would never interfere in judicial matters”, the statement clarified.
Abbo, also recently alleged that he was unfairly denied his salary, allowances, and an official vehicle following his removal.
However, the Senate President’s office explained that any financial claims made by Abbo that were not processed were due to not meeting legal and administrative standards, not due to any personal or political interference from Akpabio.
The statement also reminded Nigerians of Abbo’s controversial history, including a 2019 incident where he was caught on video assaulting a woman, for which he was ordered by a court to pay N50 million in damages.
The statement concluded by urging Abbo to reflect on his actions and focus on rebuilding trust with his constituents.
It reiterated that Senator Akpabio remains committed to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions and upholding the rule of law.