Senate sets up committee to probe Senator Abbo Elisha

The senate on Wednesday set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the alleged assault of a nursing mother by Senator Abbo Elisha, the lawmaker representing Adamawa north, at an adult sex shop in Abuja.

The committee to be chaired by Sam Egwu, the Senator representing Ebonyi North, was set up following a motion sponsored by Uba Sani, senator representing Kaduna central.

Senate President Ahamd Lawan assured that both parties should have a fair hearing when they appear before the committee.

He said, “Whatever we saw remains an allegation and until we investigate and find out what happened – both parties will have a fair hearing.”

“This morning, I received a lot of calls about the incident. I believe that this senate will be responsive. We cannot condone any act of violence by anyone. If there is an allegation against any of us, we must ensure that justice prevails.

“We are going to set up a bi-partisan committee to investigate the issue.”

Earlier, while moving the motion on the floor of the upper legislative chamber, SAni said his credibility is at stake over the incident.

He said, “That has gone a long way in tarnishing the image and credibility of this senate. As a member of this senate, my own credibility is at stake.”

“Some of us have spent most of our lives defending and fighting for the rights of less privileged and most especially, the youth and women.

“I, therefore, call on this senate to take a decisive action to redeem the image of this senate.”

In his contribution, the senator representing Ekiti central, Opeyemi Bamidele said the incident as extremely tragic.

He said, “Nigerians must also be able to see us as people who are willing and ready to lead by example. Much as we must ensure that our colleague suffers for what he did not do assuming without considering that he didn’t do this.”

“On the other hand, we must be able to protect the right of the Nigerian who has been violated. What we saw is a clear violation of sections 33, 34 and 35 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which provides respectively for the right to life, right to dignity of the human person and right to personal liberty.”