The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, is currently ill and receiving medical treatment at a hospital in London, the United Kingdom, after reportedly collapsing earlier this month, top sources from the National Assembly have told SaharaReporters.
According to the sources, Akpabio “collapsed on the 10th of this month and was rushed to London in a private jet provided by billionaire businessman, Aliko Dangote.”
The sources added that this development has kept the Senate President away from official duties, including the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) interactive session held on Wednesday.
SaharaReporters was informed that Akpabio’s condition is serious enough to warrant continued overseas medical care.
A source disclosed that “this is the second time he is being rushed to London for treatment,” raising fresh concerns about his health and capacity to continue leading the upper legislative chamber.
Multiple senators are said to have travelled to London to check on him. One of the sources said, “A number of senators have gone to visit me,” in reference to Akpabio’s hospitalisation abroad.
The sources further revealed that medical experts attending to the Senate President have reportedly advised him to reduce his workload.
According to one of the briefings received by SaharaReporters, “Doctors are advising him to step down from the Senate to attend to his health.”
Akpabio’s absence was felt at the flag-off of the MTEF and FSP interactive session, a crucial engagement between the executive and the legislature that outlines Nigeria’s medium-term fiscal and economic plans.
SaharaReporters gathered that he “has already missed today’s Medium Term Expenditure Framework presentation today.”
In his stead, the Senate President was represented by Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi at the event, confirming Akpabio’s inability to attend the session in person.
Further indications of Akpabio’s condition emerged from aides monitoring developments around his return.
One source was quoted as saying, “One of the aides just told me now that they are going to pick the guy from the airport,” suggesting ongoing logistical arrangements around his movement.
Akpabio’s last public appearance appeared to be on December 9 when the Nigerian Senate formally approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to send Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin to support efforts to restore peace and stability following an attempted coup.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, had announced the approval during the plenary, after lawmakers deliberated the request in the Committee of the Whole under section 5, Part II of the Constitution.
The Senators voted unanimously in favour, granting legislative backing for the regional security intervention.
Akpabio had described the decision as a critical move, emphasising that unrest in a neighbouring country poses risks to the entire West African region.
“An injury to one is an injury to all,” Akpabio had said, stressing Nigeria’s duty to support its ECOWAS partners in maintaining regional stability.
