The Nigerian Senate has called on the National Security Adviser (NSA), Hon. Nuhu Ribadu, to investigate and prosecute individuals responsible for spreading false reports about the health of the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.
The resolution followed growing concern among lawmakers over what they described as deliberate misinformation capable of undermining public confidence and national stability.
The decision was reached on Tuesday during plenary after Senator Titus Zam raised a point of order over reports circulating on social and online media platforms alleging that Senator Akpabio had suffered a health emergency and was rushed to a hospital in London.
Senator Zam described the reports as baseless, malicious and unacceptable, stressing that such misinformation should not be allowed to thrive unchecked.
According to him, the fake reports, which gained traction across several media platforms, were designed to mislead the public and tarnish the image of the Senate President.
He urged the Senate to take firm action by directing security agencies to identify those behind the reports and ensure they are prosecuted in accordance with the law, noting that punishment would serve as a deterrent to others.
Contributing, lawmakers expressed concern over the increasing spread of unverified information, especially as it relates to public office holders, warning that such rumours could create unnecessary tension and confusion in the polity.
They agreed that the matter went beyond politics and bordered on national security, thereby justifying the involvement of the Office of the National Security Adviser.
In his response, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the plenary, decried the growing challenge of regulating media content in the digital age.
He lamented that politicians, in particular, had become easy targets of falsehoods and sensationalism, describing some online publications as a classic case of “garbage in, garbage out.”
He emphasized the need for responsible journalism and cautioned against the reckless spread of unverified information.
The rumour of Akpabio’s alleged ill health had reportedly been in circulation for about 48 hours before his return to Nigeria on Monday night, further fuelling speculation across social media.
However, his appearance at plenary effectively dispelled the claims, reinforcing the position of the Senate that the reports were entirely false.
Meanwhile, efforts by WatchmanPost to clarify the purpose and duration of the Senate President’s recent trip have so far been unsuccessful, as Akpabio’s media aides were yet to respond to enquiries at the time of filing this report.
