The court also rejected the argument by Abbo that the suit was not properly conducted at the trial court and that he was denied a fair hearing.
By Jeffrey Agbo
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the judgement of a lower court against Senator Elisha Abbo (Adamawa North).
The appellate court ordered Abbo to pay N50 million damages for assaulting a woman, Osimibibra Warmate, in a sex toy shop in Abuja on May 11, 2019.
Justice Samira Bature of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had delivered her judgment on September 29, 2020.
Ruling on Tuesday, a three-member panel of the appellate court, led by Justice Jamilu Tukur, dismissed Abbo’s appeal which he filed against the judgment.
The court rejected Abbo’s argument that Ms Warmate’s claim that he slapped her, pulled her hair and dragged her out of the shop did not amount to rights violation, but a case of simple assault.
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The court also rejected the argument by Abbo that the suit was not properly conducted at the trial court and that he was denied a fair hearing.
While describing Abbo’s conduct as “sufficiently outrageous,” the court resolved all five issues, identified for determination, against the lawmaker and further awarded N500,000 cost against him and in favour of Warmate.
Justices Tukur, James Abundaga and Danlami Senchi (who were on the panel) were unanimous in their decision.
Justice Senchi said, “The decision of the trial court in the award of N50m against the appellant and in favour of the respondent was proper.”
He added: “The conduct of the appellant is sufficiently outrageous to merit the punishment as the facts of the case disclosed flagrant disobedience of the law, especially that the appellant is an elected Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
