Senate President Godswill Akpabio has dismissed reports suggesting that he collapsed and was flown out of the country for medical treatment, describing the claims as unfounded and misleading.

The Senate President countered the speculation by personally presiding over plenary and releasing photographs showing him actively engaged in Senate proceedings. The rumours, which circulated widely on social media, alleged that Akpabio suffered a medical emergency earlier in the month and was secretly taken to London aboard a private jet.

In an apparent response, Akpabio shared images from the Senate chamber on his verified X account, confirming his presence at plenary.

“Today, Tuesday, December 16, 2025, I presided over Plenary, where Ambassadorial nominees from President Bola Tinubu were screened and confirmed,” he wrote.

The photographs were taken during Tuesday’s sitting, during which the Senate carried out key legislative functions, effectively dispelling claims that the Senate President was incapacitated or receiving medical care abroad.

Akpabio’s appearance was widely interpreted as a direct rebuttal of reports alleging that he collapsed and was flown to London for treatment.

Meanwhile, the Senate has formally stepped into the matter, warning that the reports were dangerous and capable of misleading the public. The upper chamber directed the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to investigate the source and spread of the rumours. It also instructed the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Mr Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, to work with the NSA to conduct a comprehensive investigation aimed at identifying those responsible.

The resolution followed a point of order raised by Senator Titus Zam, who cited Order 42 of the Senate Standing Orders. Zam expressed concern that such reports circulated unchecked for several days, noting that the Senate President occupies a sensitive national position.

He described the claims as “alarming and unacceptable,” warning that unverified narratives could undermine public confidence. Zam also condemned reports suggesting that Akpabio was rushed to a hospital in London, describing them as “fake, irresponsible and capable of misleading the public.”

He urged security agencies to trace the origin of the rumours and ensure that those behind them are prosecuted in accordance with the law, stressing that accountability would deter similar incidents in the future.