The Senate has directed the National Security Adviser (NSA) to investigate fake reports circulating on the health status 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 the attention of the chamber to misleading reports on some media platforms claiming that Akpabio suffered a health emergency and was rushed to a hospital in London.
Senator Zam described the reports as false and unacceptable, stressing that the spread of such misinformation could mislead the public and undermine confidence in public institutions. He called for those responsible for the fake reports to be identified and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.
Responding to the issue, the President of the Senate, who presided over the session, lamented the growing difficulty in regulating media content, particularly reports concerning political office holders. He noted that some platforms thrive on unverified and irresponsible information, describing such content as “garbage in, garbage out.”
The Senate, therefore, resolved that the National Security Adviser should take necessary steps to investigate the source of the reports and ensure appropriate action is taken against those found culpable.
