By John Audu.
Former Senate President Ken Nnamani has vehemently denied allegations by ex-Adamawa Senator Elisha Abbo that he pleaded on behalf of a judge regarding the court ruling that nullified Mr. Abbo’s election. Nnamani described the claims as “a blatant lie” and indicated he is considering legal action.
Nnamani’s denial comes in response to Mr. Abbo’s assertions during an Arise Television interview last Wednesday, where he alleged that Nnamani visited him following the appellate court judgment and pleaded on behalf of a judge, implying judicial misconduct. Abbo also accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of orchestrating his removal as political retaliation.
In a statement released on Saturday, Nnamani, who led the Senate from 2005 to 2007, refuted Abbo’s claims. “In the Arise News interview, Senator Abbo stated that his case was judicially mismanaged, and he was a victim of miscarriage of justice. My greatest surprise was to hear him state that Senator Ken Nnamani visited him to plead with him on behalf of a judge for the miscarriage of justice. This statement is a blatant lie. I do not know how Senator Abbo can boldly fabricate an event that never happened to buttress his allegation of judicial miscarriage against him,” Nnamani stated.
Nnamani emphasized that he has never visited Abbo at his residence and is unaware of his address. “For the avoidance of doubt, I have never visited Senator Elisha Abbo at his house or anywhere. Up to this moment, I do not know where he lives. I have never discussed with him about his case, or any case pending or decided by any court of law in Nigeria,” he affirmed.
He clarified that their only meeting occurred when Abbo visited him, and their discussion did not involve any legal matters. “The only time I met with him was when he visited me in my house. It was more of a social visit by him. At this meeting we never discussed his case or any case. I recall that when the matter of his political career came up, I advised him to avoid controversies as a young politician,” Nnamani explained.
Nnamani accused Abbo of fabricating events to support his narrative, expressing disappointment that a former senator would resort to such tactics. “I know that this is a season of political drama. But I do not expect that someone of the rank of a former Senator could create such a falsehood to embellish a story, unmindful of the harm he causes to other people. While I contemplate private legal action for Senator Abbo’s libelous statements, I want the public to completely disregard his falsehood,” he said.
Nnamani, who represented Enugu East Senatorial District from 2003 to 2007, reiterated his commitment to integrity and dismissed Abbo’s claims as “pathetic lies.” He urged the public to disregard Abbo’s assertions entirely.
Abbo was removed from the Senate by the Court of Appeal in October 2023, which declared Amos Yohanna of the PDP the winner of the Adamawa Central Senatorial District election.
