Senate President Godswill Akpabio is reportedly receiving medical treatment at a hospital in London after collapsing earlier this month, sources within the National Assembly have told SaharaReporters.
According to the sources, Akpabio collapsed on December 10 and was flown to the United Kingdom aboard a private jet allegedly provided by billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote. His health condition has since kept him away from official duties, including Wednesday’s interactive session on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP).
The sources said his ailment is serious enough to require continued treatment abroad, noting that this marks the second time the Senate President has been taken to London for medical care, a development that has renewed concerns about his health and ability to lead the upper chamber.
Several senators are said to have travelled to London to visit him. One source disclosed that doctors attending to Akpabio have advised him to significantly reduce his workload, with some reportedly recommending that he step down from his position to focus on his health.
Akpabio’s absence was noticeable at the MTEF and FSP interactive session, a key engagement between the executive and legislature on Nigeria’s medium-term fiscal plans. He was represented at the event by Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, confirming his inability to attend in person.
Further indications of his condition emerged from aides tracking arrangements around his movement, with one source suggesting plans were being made concerning his return.
Akpabio was last seen publicly on December 9, when the Senate approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin following an attempted coup. He announced the decision during plenary after lawmakers deliberated on the request, which was unanimously approved.
At the time, Akpabio described the deployment as essential to regional stability, stressing Nigeria’s responsibility to support ECOWAS partners. “An injury to one is an injury to all,” he said.
