After months of public attention and media scrutiny, the Nigeria Police Force has officially cleared Senator Ishaku Elisha Abbo of allegations of rape, conspiracy, defilement, sexual exploitation, threat to life, and abuse, citing a lack of credible evidence.
The allegations, which first emerged in mid-2025, were brought forward by Mrs. Zainab Mohammed and Fatima Mohammed, with Miss Khadija Mohammed identified as the survivor.
The case, reported to the Inspector General of Police on September 15, 2025, claimed that Senator Abbo allegedly assaulted the survivor at his Katampe Extension residence in Abuja on Sunday, June 29, 2025.
A detailed police investigation, carried out by multiple specialised units of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police (Gender) DCP Oki Rita Emesim Oyintare, found that the essential elements of the offence could not be established.
The investigation involved the FCID Gender Unit, the National Cyber Crime Centre, the Intelligence Tactical Unit, and the FCID Medical Unit.
Findings from the Investigation
According to the police report dated October 23, 2025, the survivor Khadija Mohammed was accompanied to Senator Abbo’s residence on June 29, 2025, by Nafisa Mohammed Chigli, a friend of her elder sister Fatima.
At the time, only the security guard, Patience Jesse Vandi, and Senator Abbo were present in the house, which belongs to his third wife, who was reportedly away.
The findings further state that a search of the Senator’s residence and execution of a search warrant on October 3, 2025, yielded no incriminating evidence, likely due to the long delay between the alleged incident and the investigation.
The police report described medical examinations as conflicted, noting that Deda Hospital reported on July 11, 2025, that the survivor’s hymen was intact and screenings for HIV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis were negative.
It added that later Police Hospital report dated September 30, 2025, indicated the hymen had been breached. Investigators noted that the discrepancy may be due to the time gap between tests.
The report said the complainant had initially seized a mobile phone believed to contain crucial evidence, but it was not promptly submitted to the police. By the time it became available, the device had been flashed, leaving no trace of relevant data.
It added that forensic analysis of four phones, including Senator Abbo’s Tecno Spark 40 (IMEI 351244412537507), revealed 4,235 documents, but none contained images or messages involving the survivor or her sister. Only adult images sourced online were found. Phones belonging to other parties, including Nafisa and Sakina Mohammed, also yielded no relevant evidence.
Also, according to the report, witness statements failed to corroborate the allegation. For instance, it said that Patience Jesse Vandi, the gatekeeper on June 29, 2025, said she did not witness any sexual assault. Statements from others present at the residence also denied that any rape occurred.
Investigators noted that Senator Abbo had previously accused Khadija Mohammed and Nafisa Mohammed Chigli of stealing his wife’s gold jewellery, a matter reported to Dawaki Police Station on July 16, 2025, before the rape allegation was formally filed.
Investigations into alleged sexual misconduct toward Fatima Mohammed in November 2023 were also unsubstantiated.
The police report said that evidence of the survivor’s conduct after the alleged incident, including organizing her birthday party, suggested she was not in obvious distress, and video evidence showed her in a happy mood.
The report also highlighted that social media and public attention complicated the investigation, as documents and claims were widely circulated before the police could act.
Police Conclusion and Recommendation
The conclusion of the report states:” After an extensive investigation in this case, it was discovered that the essential elements of this offence are lacking as a result of the time frame between the date of the commission of the alleged offence and the time it was reported for police investigation.
“Nevertheless, there is need to test this case in court of law as this will go a long way to satisfy the curiosity of the society.”
The report recommended that the case file be forwarded to the Legal and Prosecution Department for vetting and advice, emphasizing that further judicial proceedings could help clarify lingering public concerns.
The investigation report was signed by DCP Oki Rita Emesim Oyintare, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Gender), FCID, Abuja, on October 23, 2025.
Background
On November 10, 2025, SaharaReporters reported that the former senator for Adamawa North, Abbo, had been charged with rape and sexual assault by the Nigeria Police Force, following allegations from a 13-year-old girl.
The nine-count charge, filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, stemmed from an incident alleged to have occurred on June 29, 2025.
The minor alleged that Abbo assaulted her at his residence after she was brought there by a family friend. Her detailed testimony described forceful undressing, physical restraint, and threats against her life if she reported the incident.
Abbo denied the charges, claiming the visit was brief and accusing the girl and her companion of theft. He also stated he sent N50,000 to the minor for ice cream.
Leave a Reply