Abuja Court Arraigns Ex-Senator Elisha Abbo Over Alleged R∆pe Of 13-Year-Old, Grants N50Million Bail
Abuja Court Arraigns Ex-Senator Elisha Abbo Over Alleged Rape Of 13-Year-Old, Grants N50Million Bail
Abbo and another defendant were charged in a criminal case filed by the Inspector General of Police, and the court granted both defendants bail after they pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Gwagwalada, on Wednesday arraigned former senator representing Adamawa North, Ishaku Elisha Abbo, over an alleged rape case of 13-year-old schoolgirl.
Abbo and another defendant were charged in a criminal case filed by the Inspector General of Police, and the court granted both defendants bail after they pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
The case, Charge No: CR/635/25, titled Inspector General of Police v. Senator Ishaku Elisha Abbo & Anor, is being heard before Honourable Justice I. Mohammed in Court 50 of the FCT High Court, Gwagwalada.
When the matter was called, the court confirmed that it was properly constituted and that all parties were present. The defendants were in court as proceedings formally commenced.
Appearances in court were announced as follows: J. B. Anzaku appeared for the Prosecution, M. J. Numa, SAN, represented the 1st Defendant, Senator Ishaku Elisha Abbo, while Sunusi Musa, SAN, acted for the 2nd Defendant.
K. O. Otumala and Dahiru Ibrahim were present, watching brief on behalf of the nominal complainant. At the commencement of proceedings, counsel for the nominal complainant formally announced their appearance.
However, the senior counsel to the 1st Defendant objected, urging the court not to record the appearance of the watching brief. He contended that the practice of watching brief was unusual in courts of superior record and should not be entertained.
In response, Justice I. Mohammed cautioned counsel to the 1st Defendant against making “a mountain out of an anthill,” directing him to provide judicial authorities to support his objection.
The court stated that if satisfied with the authorities cited, the appearance of counsel watching brief would be struck out from the record.
The proceedings, however, continued.
The charge was read in open court to both defendants. Upon being asked to respond, the 1st and 2nd Defendants each pleaded not guilty to all the counts preferred against them by the Inspector General of Police.
Following the plea, counsel for both defendants informed the court that they had filed applications for bail and sought leave to move same. The court granted the request.
Counsel for the 1st Defendant moved his bail application.
In response, the Prosecution filed and relied on a Counter-Affidavit. Although the prosecution did not oppose the bail application, defence counsel drew the attention of the court to what he described as a procedural lapse, stating that the Counter-Affidavit was served on him only on the morning of the hearing, contrary to the Rules of Court which require service at least 48 hours before the hearing date.
Thereafter, counsel for the 2nd Defendant moved his bail application, to which the Prosecution equally responded by filing a Counter-Affidavit.
After listening to submissions from the lawyers, the court stood the matter down briefly to enable the presiding judge prepare rulings on the pending bail applications.
Upon reconvening, Justice I. Mohammed delivered his rulings, granting bail to both defendants under specific conditions.
The court granted bail to the 1st Defendant, Senator Ishaku Elisha Abbo, in the sum of ₦50 million, with two sureties of good repute, and ordered him to surrender his international passport.
The 2nd Defendant was granted bail in the sum of ₦40 million, also with two sureties of good repute.
Following the bail rulings, the court adjourned the case to February 11, 2026, for hearing.
SaharaReporters previously reported that the Nigeria Police Force had filed a string of criminal charges against Abbo, accusing him of the rape and sexual assault of a 13-year-old schoolgirl.
The charges were filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja on October 30.
The Inspector General of Police’s legal team submitted nine counts against the former lawmaker, who represented Adamawa North Senatorial District until an appellate court sacked him in October 2023.
The charges border on rape, sexual molestation, and other related offences against a minor.
The legal action follows a police investigation into the disturbing allegations, which concluded that there was sufficient evidence “to test the case in court.”
The charges stem from a detailed account provided by the victim, a Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3) student. In her testimony, she alleged that the incident occurred on Sunday, June 29.
According to her narrative, she was approached at her home in Gwarimpa by her elder sister’s friend, Nafisa Chigli, who persuaded her to accompany her to a relative’s house. After initial reluctance, the minor agreed.
They took a ride to a residence in Katampe Extension, where they were welcomed by Mr. Abbo. The former senator allegedly collected their phones upon their arrival.
She alleged that the lawmaker instructed Miss Chigli to give them some privacy before proceeding to molest her. The 18-year-old Miss Chigli was allegedly told to wait in the bathroom adjoining Mr. Abbo’s bedroom.
According to the victim, after Miss Chigli left the room, Mr. Abbo forcefully undressed her. She said she had been wearing a hijab, a kimono, and a two-piece outfit, all of which the senator allegedly removed.
The victim, in tears, recounted that Mr. Abbo smothered her trembling, exposed body with unwanted kisses, ignoring her repeated pleas to “please, stop.”
She added that the more she cried and resisted, the more aggressive and angry the former lawmaker became.
Abbo is not new to controversies. In 2019, he drew public ire after he was caught on camera battering a woman in a sex toy shop in Abuja.
The court later awarded a fine of N50 million against the lawmaker for assault.
A few months later, the controversial lawmaker was again caught on camera assaulting a man identified as Silas Daniel in his Mubi hometown.
Silas, an estranged former Personal Assistant (PA) to Abbo, was attacked with machetes, daggers and clubs by thugs, reportedly on the orders of the lawmaker.
