The Nigerian Senate has taken a decisive step to combat the spread of false information by ordering a high-level investigation into malicious online reports concerning the health of its President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Senate Mandates Security Probe Over "Destabilising" Claims
During its plenary session on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, the Senate passed a resolution directing the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhiu Ribadu, to immediately launch an investigation. The probe aims to uncover the origin and motives behind the circulation of false reports alleging that Senate President Godswill Akpabio had collapsed and was hospitalised in London.
The motion for the investigation was brought forward by Senator Titus Zam, who raised a point of order to address the concerning publications. Senator Zam described the reports, which claimed Akpabio suffered a health emergency and was flown abroad for treatment, as completely false and unacceptable.
"These reports are not only false, they are capable of undermining public confidence in state institutions," Zam stated emphatically on the Senate floor. He urged security agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible to serve as a deterrent against future acts of misinformation.
Akpabio Decries "Garbage" Content, Highlights Governance Challenge
Presiding over the session, Senate President Akpabio expressed his deep concern regarding the incident. He highlighted the growing difficulty of regulating content on digital media platforms, especially when it involves public office holders. Akpabio lamented that much of the material circulating online epitomised the "garbage in, garbage out" phenomenon.
He further warned that the unchecked spread of such falsehoods presents significant challenges for effective governance and national stability. The Senate's decisive action was a direct response to reports that surfaced online on Monday, December 15. These fabricated stories alleged that Akpabio had collapsed earlier in the month and was rushed to London via private jet.
The false narratives attempted to link his absence from key legislative engagements, such as the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper interactive session, to this non-existent health crisis. The reports even falsely claimed that senators had travelled to visit him and that doctors had advised him to step down.
Aides Dismiss Rumours, Senate Awaits Investigation Outcome
Officials close to the Senate President had previously and categorically dismissed all claims as "fake news." They insisted that Senator Akpabio had not suffered any health emergency and that his absence from certain duties should not be misconstrued.
Akpabio was last seen publicly presiding over the Senate on December 9. During that session, the upper legislative chamber approved President Bola Tinubu's request for the deployment of Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin. Announcing the approval, Akpabio stated it underscored Nigeria's commitment to regional security, famously adding that "an injury to one is an injury to all."
The Senate has stated that the findings from the NSA's investigation will be communicated to lawmakers. This move is part of a broader initiative to address the dangerous spread of misinformation and to shield public institutions from the corrosive effects of false reporting.
