The Senate has commenced probe into the allegation of assault levelled against one of its members, Sen. Elisha Abbo Cliff (PDP-Adamawa) with the setting up of a 7-man committee to look into the allegation.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the President of Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, announced the composition of the adhoc committee at plenary on Wednesday to investigate the matter.
NAN reports that Elisha was alleged to have beaten a lady recently at an adult toy shop in Abuja, sometimes in March, after the video went viral on Tuesday.
Sen. Uba Sani (APC-Kaduna), had raised the issue under matters of privileges.
Sani drew the attention of his colleagues to how development had brought the entire Senate to negative public image and ridicule before the world.
According to him, between Tuesday when the video went viral and early hours of Wednesday, he had received over 111 calls from friends and associates wanting to know what truly transpired.
The lawmaker urged the Senate to take prompt action on the issue and redeemed its image.
However, Lawan in his remark said that “whatever that was seen or read on the social media and the mainstream media on the matter remained allegations unless they were investigated.”
Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti), in his contribution also called for full investigation of the matter.
He said only a full-scale investigation would help the Senate unravel the true picture of the story.
Also, Minority Leader, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP- Abia), said the Senate rules provided how all senators should conduct themselves in public.
He, however, opined that no conclusion should be reached until an investigation was carried out.
Lawan, in his further comment said that the 9th Senate would not condone any act of violence against Nigerians.
According to him, the panel will afford the embattled lawmaker to present his own side of the story.
He added that the decision would also provide a platform for the lady allegedly assaulted to appear before the panel members to prove her case.
Following this, President of the Senate announced the panel to be headed by Sen. Samuel Egwu (PDP- Ebonyi).
Other members are: Sen. Oluremi Tinubu (APC-Lagos), Sen. Matthew Urhoghide (PDP-Edo), Sen. Stella Oduah (PDP- Anambra), Sen. Mohammed-Sani Musa (APC-Niger), Sen. Danladi Sankara (APC-Jigawa) and Sen. Halliru Jika (APC-Bauchi) as members.
He said they have two weeks to conclude their work and report back to the senate.Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has also waded into the affair condemning the alleged assault by Senator Elisha Abbo.
This followed a matter of Privilege by Rep. Beni Lar (APC-Plateau) at the plenary on Wednesday.
In a CCTV video trending on the social media, the embattled senator was seen slapping the lady in a sex toy shop in Abuja.
Lar said that it was heartbreaking to see a lady being beaten up in that manner and a lawmaker should not be seen indulging in such an act.
According to her, even if she is your wife, you are not supposed to beat a lady like that in public or elsewhere and I call on the house to condemn the act in its entirety.
In his ruling, the Speaker of the house, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos) said that every right thinking Nigerian should condemn such act.
“We condemn it in its entirety and I believe the Senate will deal with the matter but if not, we shall step in,” he said.
In a related development, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Vice President Abubakar Atiku, has condemned the actions of Sen. Abbo.
Atiku, in a tweet on Monday, through his official account @atiku advised Abbo to publicly apologise.
He also called on the opposition PDP to take necessary action, adding that he had seen the alleged assault video, involving the senator.
“The video is sad, inexcusable. I know the Senator quite well.
“But the law is clear and leaders must lead by example. I advise him to publicly apologise, voluntarily go to the police and show good example expected of a young leader.
“I also call on our party, the @OfficialPDPNig to take necessary disciplinary action and the @PoliceNG to ensure the law takes its full course,” he said.
NAN reports that Abbo has faced intense criticism following the release of the video.
He has, however, defended his actions stating that the events took place in March and not May, as shown in the video.
The lawmaker also said that he would release a full statement in due time.
Meanwhile, Nigerians on social media have continued to condemn his actions with some requesting for his recall.
Similarly, some Nigerian celebrities have lent their voices to the growing condemnation of Senator Abbo’s action, calling for his immediate arrest.
Don Jazzy, among other celebrities, took to social media expressing their displeasure at the viral video, calling for Sen. Abbo’s arrest.
Here are some of their reactions;
@BankyW tweeted, “I’ve been saying we need to pay attention to who we let into the National Assembly. Now look: a sitting senator caught on camera assaulting a woman.
“These are our “leaders”. our “lawmakers”. Shame on us. Elisha Abbo should face the full wrath of the law.
@PeterPsquare “I’m so mad right now after watching the video clip of our representative assaulting a woman.
“People like Elisha Abbo do not deserve to handle public office. This is disgusting. He needs to be arrested.
@DonJazzy “Sir Osinbajo, things like this should not go unpunished in our dear country.
“We all have to be accountable for our actions. This person I’m seeing here like this cannot be a senator.
#SenatorStepDown. Cc @profosinbajo,” he wrote.
@MI_Abaga “Elisha Abbo is a fucking woman beater and shame on the police officer who stood by.
@KateHenshaw “Shame on you Elisha Abbo, senator representing Adamawa north senatorial district. Shame on you. Putting hands on anyone is not acceptable. Shame on you.
Radio personality, Toke Makinwa, shocked at the senator’s actions, expressed her contempt over his action.
According to Makinwa, in spite of the clamor by Nigerians for young people to get into political offices, people with questionable character should not be allowed into leadership.
“It is surprising that a young senator will get himself involved in such a humiliating and embarrassing act.
“I am so tired of being tired . We ask for a chance, we preach #not2young2run.
“We shout and shout and just when we get excited that we have some young people who can represent us and effect real change, #ElishaAbbo goes and does this.
“A serving senator, I hope the people of his constituency come out in numbers, I hope @muhammadubuhari @profosinbajo the president of the Senate.
“The speaker of the house, @rt.hon.femigbajabiamila the Nigerian police cc @opetodolapo @nigerianpoliceforce and everyone comes together to get him out of the office immediately.
“Oga @dinomelaye, pls check your colleague, he must pay for this. #senatorstepdown,” she wrote.
