Senator Ishaku Elisha Abbo, who represented Adamawa North in the 9th and the early part of the 10th Senate, has denied reports linking him to the alleged rape of a 13‑year‑old secondary school pupil in June.
Some media outlets reported Thursday that the former senator was in police custody over an accusation brought by the girl’s mother. In a telephone interview from his Abuja residence in Katampe Extension on Friday, Abbo described the reports as “baseless, unfounded and mischievous,” saying he was at home all day Thursday and not in or near any police station.
“The said report is the handiwork of my political detractors. It is an orchestrated smear campaign to disturb my peace by political enemies,” he said. Abbo also said he recently reported a woman who he accused of demanding N5 million from him to the Federal Capital Territory Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), and that both of them were invited for questioning.
Online speculation on Thursday alleged that the ex-lawmaker was in custody after the girl’s family accused him of sexually assaulting the minor at his Katampe residence on June 29, 2025. The family also alleged Abbo tried to silence them by sending money to the girl’s father and said Senator Aishatu Binani, the 2023 Adamawa governorship candidate, visited to discourage them from pursuing the matter. Those claims are attributed to the family.
The Nigeria Police Force did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The new allegations add to previous controversies surrounding Abbo. In 2019 he drew national condemnation after a viral video showed him assaulting a woman at a sex shop in Abuja. He has also been accused in earlier reports of attempting to blackmail a married woman with an alleged sex tape.
