Senate President Godswill Akpabio has refuted allegations that he suffered a collapse and was subsequently admitted to a London hospital for medical attention.
Kenny Okolugbo, a Communications and Strategy Consultant for the Senate President, vehemently denied the veracity of reports concerning Akpabio’s health.
In a brief response to inquiries from journalist regarding the matter, Okolugbo dismissed the reports as “a lie, fake news,” declining to elaborate further.
This denial follows a report circulated on Monday by an online news outlet, which asserted that the Senate President had collapsed and was transported to London via private jet for urgent medical care.
The Senate on Tuesday also referred the allegations to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, for investigation.
The decision followed the consideration of a motion raised during plenary by Senator Titus Zam.
Moving the motion, Zam decried the circulation of false reports on social media claiming that the Senate President had died in a London hospital, despite Akpabio being alive and presiding over Senate proceedings.
He also expressed concern over a similar rumour that trended online about former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, even on a day the elder statesman attended a Christmas carol service in Abuja.
The senator called for a thorough probe into the spread of the misinformation, with a view to identifying and sanctioning those responsible for promoting fake news.
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He added that on several occasions, social media had carried reports and even funeral footage of prominent Nigerians who were still alive.
He sustained the motion moved by Zam and said the incident be referred to the office of NSA for diligent investigation to unravel the purveyors.
“Your point of order is sustained. I think all we can do is to refer it to the NSA for investigation,” Akpabio said.
The Senate unanimously approved the proposal when it was put to voice vote.