Sex-Toy Shop Assault: Senator Abbo In New International Controversy

Senator Elisha Abbo, the senator caught in a violent scene in an Abuja sex-toy shop has again been enmeshed in another controversy, this time a failed attempt to shut down an online news website.

Senator Abbo according to the Eagle Online sought to shut down the news website upon his complaint to the hosting provider of the site’s alleged publication of the scene of his altercation with a nursing mother at the Abuja sex-toy shop.

Eagleonline was temporarily shut down until the news website published by Dotun Oladipo was able to prove that Senator Abbo’s claim was false.

This is not the first time that Senator Abbo would be moving to shut down the right of expression. He was a passionate supporter of the controversial bill to regulate social media.

Senator Abbo, in a complaint to Cloudfare, which houses the materials of web hosting companies, had alleged among others according to Eagle Online that the video clip of the altercation was stolen with the intention of tainting his reputation.

“Original Work: this is an un-authorized cctv footage publication intended to taint my reputation as a Nigerian senator.

“For the further avoidance of doubt, the relevant photographs/images/audio visuals have been stolen and are being illegally distributed on-line (the details of which are again set-out in the notification below) and all corresponding/associated data constitutes stolen property and any publication, distribution, or other form of dealing in such footage/stills/ images constitutes a clear violation of United States, California State, British, European Union and international data protection and criminal laws. Furthermore, any commercial dealings in such photographs/images or associated data would also constitute further, criminal violations and infractions and all resulting proceeds of such activities would constitute proceeds of crime (and which, in turn, would also give rise to money laundering violations and infractions.”

In responding to the claim, Cloudflare told Abbo: “Cloudflare received a DMCA copyright infringement complaint regarding: theeagleonline.com.ng

“Please be aware Cloudflare is a network provider offering a reverse proxy, pass-through security service. We are not a hosting provider. Cloudflare does not control the content of our customers.

“The actual host for theeagleonline.com.ng are the following IP addresses. 69.64.82.61. Using the following command, you can confirm the site in question is hosted at that IP address: curl -v -H “Host: theeagleonline.com.ng” 69.64.82.61/.”

In response to the claim by Abbo, the host of The Eagle Online, Codero, blocked the website.

However, a response from The Eagle Online, saw the website restored.

The Eagle Online in its response signed by its Managing Editor, Dotun Oladipo, said: “Elisha Abbo, who is a public servant of our country Nigeria, currently serving as a senator has misled you into believing that he is a victim in this case. The so-called senator went into a sex toy shop and slapped a nursing mother. He went further to bring in policemen to arrest those he harassed. But he didn’t realise that the CCTV in the shop was operational. The shop owners then released the footage of the actions of the senator to the media because of his insistence on using the police to punish them. As I write this, the police have charged Abbo to court. The Senate, to which he belongs, is also probing him. That probe has however been suspended because Abbo refused to appear before the panel, claiming the case is in court.

“This is not Abbo’s first case of aggression in public. He also once slapped a photojournalist. As a publisher it is well within our rights of our ‘freedom to publish’ or report any news as long as it is true and factual and Abbo’s plan to stifle our rights should not be encouraged.

“Furthermore, as stated earlier, the said video was released to the public and media by the shop owners who hold the rights to the files, It was therefore not ‘stolen’ as he would have you believe. If Abbo wants the truthful content removed from our website because he believes that it “taints his image” then he must politely make a request directed to the management of The Eagle Online and not try dubious means to rob well meaning Nigerian Citizens of their rights and honest livelihood.”

Codero said: “I definitely understand the interest at play, however we as a hosting provider cannot take sides in such a matter. As well, the DMCA complaint is in regards to the surveillance video and images used, which do appear to belong to another entity and website. You are allowed to keep the story up, but you cannot use images or videos belonging to other individuals or organizations without their express consent.”

An aide of the senator claimed ignorance of the development when contacted on Monday.

 And For More Nigerian News Visit GWG.NG