Akpabio Petitions Police, DSS Over Fake Report Linking Him to Comment on President Trump

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has lodged a formal petition with the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS), seeking the arrest of individuals responsible for circulating a false report that quoted him as making disparaging remarks about U.S. President Donald Trump.

Akpabio dismissed the publication as a fabrication, accusing its authors of doctoring old photographs from a 2023 event in Port Harcourt to lend credibility to the story. “Somebody will sit in the comfort of his room and produce a report, even fake pictures of 2023 when the Senate President with Senators visited Port Harcourt for a different event, and claim that I responded to President Trump. Who am I to answer President Trump?” he said.

He stressed that only the Nigerian Presidency has the authority to respond officially to matters involving foreign leaders. “This time, the Senate President of Nigeria did not answer President Trump. The quotation was concocted to cause a diplomatic row,” he added.

Akpabio warned that fake reports of this nature could inflame tensions and harm Nigeria’s international relations. “I believe the Cybercrimes Unit of the Police, the DSS and others should find that character out, because it is meant to cause friction and put the Nigerian Senate in disrepute,” he said.

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin expressed strong support for Akpabio, describing the fake publication as an attack on Nigeria’s sovereignty and the integrity of its parliament. “You didn’t say it, that’s correct. You shouldn’t be scared of saying it. I’m not scared of Trump. We are a sovereign nation. Nigerians must not be afraid to speak their minds,” Barau stated.

Akpabio clarified that the Senate has not yet deliberated on Trump’s recent comments about Nigeria, emphasizing that any official position would only be taken after a plenary discussion. He urged Nigerians to verify information before sharing it, warning that the spread of false reports could mislead the public and jeopardize diplomatic relations.