Your Apology Is Irrelevant, FIDA Abuja Tells Senator Elisha Abbo, Calls For His Prosecution

The International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Abuja, has said that it is irrelevant that Senator Ishaku Elisha Abbo apologized for assaulting a lady in an adult shop.

This statement was made in a press release signed by the chairperson, Rekia Rachael Adejo-Andrew (Mrs).

The Association is according to the notice condemning the action of the lawmaker, while calling for his investigation.

Below read the full press statement

The attention of The International Federation of Women Lawyers FIDA (Nigeria) Abuja Branch was drawn to a video which went viral on social media on the 2nd day of July 2019 where a member of the newly inaugurated 9th National Assembly, Senator Ishaku Elisha Abbo representing Adamawa North Senatorial Area mercilessly beat up a young Nigerian woman in an adult toy shop in Wuse II, Abuja.

FIDA Nigeria Abuja Branch joins in condemning completely the said act of the Senator. The act is wrong, unacceptable, archaic and criminal in nature. It is violence against a woman and clearly contravenes the express provisions of The Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act 2015 (which is operative in Abuja), Penal Code Law and other Laws.

May we state that we are an interested party in the arrest, investigation and prosecution of the Senator.

It is therefore irrelevant and immaterial that he has tendered an apology. The apology as a matter of fact is clearly an admission of commission of the crime. We accordingly call for his prosecution to serve as a deterrent to all and sundry who act with impunity and think that a woman can be beaten up at anytime under any guise by a man moreso in the presence of his orderly a Law Enforcement Official. It is doubtful if he would have beaten the shop attendant or friend if she were a man.

We submit that the act is despicable and most dishonourable particularly from a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Whist we call for his prosecution following his admission of commission of a crime, we recommend to his Constituency to set in motion the process of his recall from the Senate.

We accordingly call on all the relevant Government agencies particularly The Nigeria Police Force and National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in persons (NAPTIP) to speedily set in motion the process of trial. Whilst we commend the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Senate for ordering his immediate arrest and setting up an investigative panel respectively, we nonetheless request his immediate prosecution.

As a group of Women Lawyers, we are committed in ensuring that all forms of violence against women and children are eradicated.

Thank you.

Signed
Rekia Rachael Adejo-Andrew (Mrs.)
Chairperson, FIDA Nigeria Abuja Branch.