Balarabe Abbas Lawal
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has given an update on the condition of Balarabe Abbas Lawal, the ministerial nominee from Kaduna, who slumped during screening on Wednesday.
Lawal was the second nominee among three to be screened after Dr Jamila Bio Ibrahim, but he slumped midway into his screening by the Senate plenary on Wednesday.
The nominee, who was standing on the podium, slumped when Kaduna South Senator, Sunday Marshall Katung, was speaking about Lawal’s administrative experience in Kaduna.
After the nominee had finished reading his profile before the senators, the Kaduna lawmaker, while endorsing Lawal’s ministerial nomination, said all the three senators from the state have no objection to his nomination.
Senator Katung was still into his remarks when the nominee collapsed, prompting Akpabio to shout, “Give him water, give him water and sugar.”
Thereafter, the Senate President ordered journalists and cameras out of the Senate chamber while the live streaming of the screening was also halted.
Speaking before calling the last nominee, Ayodele Olawande, Akpabio said that Lawal admitted that he was exhausted having over worked himself for some days before the screening.
“The nominee, Mr Balarabe Abbas Lawal said he was quite exhausted, and that he rushed to Abuja for his ministerial screening,” the Senate President said.
Akpabio said the nominee insisted on going ahead with the screening, saying he was fine, but the Senate president called the last nominee, Olawande for screening.
The Senate then resumed after about a 45-minute break and thereafter confirmed the three nominees.
