You can’t threaten me with suspension, Abbo tells panel as Senate recommends death penalty for child rape

Senator Elisha Abbo engaged the Senate Committee probing his alleged assault on a nursing woman at a sex toyshop in Abuja in a shouting match.

Trouble started when Abbo appeared before the panel, but declined to comment on the matter as the case was already in court, insisting he could not be threatened with suspension because of what transpired on a video that went viral.

His request was rejected as the panel members said Abbo could not dictate for the Committee, which immediately spelt out the consequences of his refusal to talk.

Responding to Abbo’s comment, Senator Remi Tinubu said he (Abbo) could not dictate to the panel.

“You cannot threaten me with suspension, it is not out of place for me to say I am not addressing the press. I came because I received a text message before the Committee. I will talk to media, I should address the Committee in closed door,” he said.

However, after some time of hot exchange of words, the panel members agreed that Abbo should speak behind closed door.

But, before the closed session, Abbo said he decided to apologise last week to protect the institution of the Senate, adding that the matter happened before he became a Senator.

Meanwhile, Senate yesterday resolved to tame the increasing cases of child rape in the country with death penalty for its perpetrators.

It also resolved to ensure a specialised training for police and officers and other security agents, who are assigned to handle rape cases.

Adopting the motion, Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan upheld the prayers on review of all relevant laws that would ensure capital punishment for offenders of child sex-abuse, urging members of the public to serve as watchdogs against rape.

Moving the motion on Order 42 and 52 of Senate rules, representative of Cross River North Senatorial district, Senator Rose Oko, explained that victims of child rape have been on the increase, a situation she said, was worrisome, urging the upper chamber to intervene.

“Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, I rise on Order 42 and 52 of Senate rules to explain a very disturbing issue of child rape. This matter has become very alarming and we need to dealt with it,” she said.

Reacting, representative of Lagos Central Senatorial district, Oluremi Tinubu, said perpetrators of child sex-abuse deserve death penalty, wondering what its perpetrators stand to benefit from such heinous acts, adding: “Raping a child is synonymous with killing that child.

“Imagine a child who doesn’t know anything was raped. If you ask the child victim to stand in law Court, what would she tell the judge?”

Supporting the motion, representative of Niger North Senatorial district, Sabi Abdullahi argued that Senate should intervene through stiffer penalties for perpetrators.

Speaking, Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege noted that there were enough rape laws in the country, stating that the challenges were those of enforcement and implementation.

On his part, representative of Enugu North Senatorial district, Chukwuka Utazi, canvassed psychiatric tests for child rapists, adding that the country’s school curriculum should also capture sex education from elementary level to higher institutions.