Akpabio Orders Journalists Out As Ministerial Nominee Collapses

The President of the 10th Senate, Godswill Akpabio has ordered journalists and cameras out of the Senate chamber after the ministerial nominee from Kaduna State, Balarabe Abbas Lawal slumped during screening.

Naija News had earlier reported that Balarabe who was the second nominee to be screened after Dr Jamila Bio Ibrahim slumed on Wednesday during his confirmation.

The nominee, who was standing on the podium, collapsed when Kaduna South Senator, Sunday Marshall Katung, was speaking about Balarabe’s administrative experience in Kaduna.

After Balarabe had finished reading his profile before the senators, the Kaduna lawmaker, while endorsing Balarabe’s ministerial nomination, said all three senators from the state had no objection to his nomination.

Senator Katung had not finished his remarks when the nominee collapsed, prompting Senate President Godswill Akpabio to end the screening.

Akpabio reaction to the development shouted, “Water, water! Can you give him sugar and water? Can someone bring water and sugar? Please, call Dr. Wale!.”

He also asked the cameramen to leave the chamber as the senators tried to save the life of the ministerial nominee.

He was taken to the hospital at the time this report was filed and his condition remains unknown.