Investigative journalist Adeola Fayehun has reaffirmed her claim that Senate President Godswill Akpabio was ill and received medical treatment in London, while firmly denying reports that she ever said the former Akwa Ibom governor died.
Fayehun made this affirmation on her TikTok handle, stressing that Akpabio actually collapsed on December 10, 2025, and was flown to London in Alhaji Aliko Dangote’s aircraft for treatment.
Fayehun, reacting to discussions within the Senate and reports of an alleged investigation into claims about Akpabio’s health, said her original report was deliberately misrepresented.
“I heard about the meeting the Senate had, and said that somebody alleged that the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, died. I did not say that,” Fayehun said, clarifying, “What I said was that he was sick and admitted in London.”
She argued that Nigerian public officials often avoid admitting to travelling abroad for medical treatment, which, according to her, explains what she described as inconsistencies in the Senate President’s public explanations.
“These guys will not admit to being flown abroad for treatment. This is why he would deny going to London for treatment,” she said.
Fayehun recalled a similar incident in August 2025, when Akpabio was reported to have collapsed during a Senate sitting. She claimed that after returning to Nigeria, the Senate President held a press conference to deny being ill, despite acknowledging that he had travelled to London.
She explained, “He didn’t deny going to London, but he was not straightforward about why he was in London. He knows that we know, and all the lawmakers know, why he was in London.”
According to Fayehun, this was not the first time Akpabio had been flown abroad for medical care, alleging that such trips are often followed by public denials or vague explanations.
Addressing the controversy over claims that the Senate President had died, Fayehun distanced herself completely from such reports.
She stated, “If you are looking for who said he died, I cannot help you with that one. That wasn’t me. But if you are looking for who said that he was sick and treated in London, that is me.”
She also criticised suggestions that authorities were investigating those who reported on Akpabio’s health, describing it as an attempt to intimidate journalists.
“I think it is funny that they said they are doing an investigation to track down people who reported such, trying to make it a crime to report about the health of a public official. This is how much they are trying to silence the Nigerian media”, she said.
Fayehun further alleged that Akpabio collapsed on the night of Tuesday, December 10, 2025, and was flown out of the country shortly afterwards.
She claimed that the only private jet available at the time was allegedly owned by Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.
As of the time of filing this report, the Senate Presidency has not issued an official statement responding directly to Fayehun’s latest claims.
