Former lawmaker representing Adamawa North, Senator Elisha Abbo, has surrendered himself to operatives of the Nigeria Police Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Abuja following allegations that he raped a 13-year-old secondary school student.
According to the victim’s parents, the incident allegedly occurred on June 29, 2025, at Abbo’s residence in Katampe, Abuja. The family further alleged that after the assault, Abbo made repeated attempts to suppress the scandal by sending money to the victim’s father in exchange for silence.
In a shocking twist, the girl’s parents claimed that a former senator and 2023 governorship candidate in Adamawa State, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed, popularly known as “Binani,” visited their home in an attempt to persuade them not to make the matter public.
Police sources confirmed that Abbo is still being held at the FCID headquarters as investigators interrogate him over the serious allegations. “The matter is under thorough investigation, and no stone will be left unturned,” a senior police officer at the FCID told reporters under condition of anonymity.
This is not the first time Abbo has courted controversy. In 2019, a viral video showed him assaulting a saleswoman at a sex toy shop in Abuja, an incident that sparked nationwide outrage and a Senate disciplinary probe. More recently, a married woman accused the former senator of attempting to blackmail her with a sex tape, further tarnishing his public image.
The latest allegation has triggered widespread condemnation from civil society groups, child rights advocates, and women’s organizations who are calling for justice. The Executive Director of the Child Protection Network, Lagos Chapter, described the development as “a test case for Nigeria’s criminal justice system,” urging the police not to bow to political influence.
Abbo, who lost his Senate seat after a controversial court judgment in 2023, has largely remained in the public eye for scandals rather than political contributions. His arrest is already fueling debates on social media, where many Nigerians are demanding swift prosecution.
As of press time, neither Abbo nor his legal team has issued an official statement.
