The Nigerian Senate has asked the National Security Adviser (NSA) to probe reports which claimed the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, is dead.
The resolution was made during plenary on Tuesday, following a point of order raised by Senator Titus Zam, who quoted fake reports circulated on media platforms that the President of the Senate suffered a health emergency and was rushed to a hospital in London.
The lawmaker pointed out that such fake news is unacceptable and those behind the misinformation should be fished out and made to face the law to serve as a deterrent.
In his response, the President of the Senate, who presided at plenary, said it was becoming increasingly difficult to regulate what the media publishes, particularly as it relates to politicians, describing content on some platforms as “garbage in, garbage out”.
Naijaonpoint recalls that the media team of the Senate President had earlier denied reports circulating online that Akpabio collapsed and was flown to London for urgent medical attention.
Speaking on Monday, Kenny Okolugbo, a Consultant on Communications and Strategy to the Senate President, described the report as “fake news.”
When contacted by Daily Post over the health claims, Okolugbo said, “It’s a lie, fake news,” without providing further clarification.
The clarification comes on the heels of a report published by Sahara Reporters, which alleged that Akpabio collapsed on December 10 and was rushed to London in a private jet allegedly provided by business magnate, Aliko Dangote.
The report claimed that the Senate President is currently receiving treatment abroad and has been absent from official duties, notably the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) session held last Wednesday.
Akpabio’s absence was notable during the key legislative engagement on Nigeria’s fiscal strategy, where Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi stood in on his behalf.