BREAKING: Senate Orders NSA to Probe Reports on Akpabio’s Death

• Senate directs NSA Nuhu Ribadu to investigate circulating reports claiming Senate President Godswill Akpabio is dead.

• Reports deemed fake by the Senate President’s media team, citing misinformation on social media.

• Akpabio absent from MTEF/FSP session, sparking speculation, but clarification confirms no health emergency.

The Nigerian Senate has instructed National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu to investigate recent reports claiming that Senate President Godswill Akpabio is dead. The directive followed a point of order raised by Senator Titus Zam during Tuesday plenary, emphasizing the need to curb fake news and misinformation targeting public officials.

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Senator Zam highlighted that reports circulating online suggested Akpabio had suffered a health emergency and was flown to a hospital in London, which the lawmaker described as unacceptable and potentially damaging.

The Senate President, presiding over the session, acknowledged the difficulty of regulating media content, describing some online publications as “garbage in, garbage out.”

Earlier, the media team of Akpabio had dismissed claims that he collapsed or was flown abroad for treatment, calling them fake news. Consultant on Communications to the Senate President, Kenny Okolugbo, told Daily Post, “It’s a lie, fake news,” without further clarification.

The false report, initially published by Sahara Reporters, alleged Akpabio was absent from official duties, including the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) session, where Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi represented him.

Godswill Akpabio became Senate President on June 13, 2023, leading the 10th Senate after succeeding Ahmad Lawan. The Senate’s decision to direct the NSA to probe the misinformation aims to deter fake news and protect the integrity of public office.