Senate orders probe into fake health reports on Akpabio

The Senate has directed the National Security Adviser (NSA) to investigate the circulation of false reports concerning the health of the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

The resolution was adopted on Tuesday during plenary following a point of order raised by Senator Titus Zam, who drew attention to misleading reports on some media platforms claiming that Senator Akpabio had suffered a health emergency and was rushed to a hospital in London.

Senator Zam condemned the reports as fake and irresponsible, describing them as unacceptable misinformation capable of misleading the public. He urged security agencies to identify those behind the false claims and ensure they are prosecuted in accordance with the law to serve as a deterrent to others.

Responding, Senator Akpabio, who presided over the plenary, acknowledged the growing challenge of regulating information in the media space, especially as it concerns public office holders. He lamented the spread of unverified content on some platforms, describing the trend as a case of “garbage in, garbage out.”

The Senate’s decision underscores growing concerns within the legislature over the spread of misinformation and its potential impact on public trust and national stability.