Akpabio Orders Journalists Out As Ministerial Nominee Collapses During Screening

A ministerial nominee from Kaduna State, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, on Wednesday slumped during his confirmation at the Senate.

Balarabe was the second nominee to be screened after Dr Jamila Bio Ibrahim.

The incident happened more than 15 minutes into Balarabe’s screening exercise at the Senate plenary.

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 the three senators from the state have no objection to his nomination.

Senator Katung had not finished his remarks when the nominee collapsed, prompting the Senate President Godswill Akpabio to shout, “Give him water, give him water and sugar.”

Akpabio ordered journalists and camera out of the Senate chamber while the live streaming of the screening was also halted.

It is not immediately clear the underlining health condition of the nominee, but a lawmaker, who did not want to be named, said his has stabilised.

“The man is okay now,” the senator simply told reporters.

The lawmaker, however, did not say whether the Senate will continue with Balarabe’s screening.