By Pascal Ibe
Biafran agitators have shared a report alongside an image of a rowdy plenary session with a claim that Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe shut down the N’Assembly while calling for the release of the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe is a lawmaker representing Abia South District in the Nigerian Senate.
One of the agitators published the photos of the Abia lawmaker, a rowdy plenary, and wrote, “Breaking News:
Senator Abaribe Shuts Down National Assembly, Demands Immediate Release of Nnamdi Kanu
“Abuja – Chaos erupted at the Nigerian National Assembly today as Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe took a dramatic stand, demanding the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu. The senator, who previously stood as a surety for Kanu’s bail, vowed that legislative proceedings would not continue until his demand was met.
“Abaribe arrived at the National Assembly wielding a placard and blocking key access roads, declaring that “enough is enough.” He insisted that the prolonged detention of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader was unjust and against the rule of law.
The claim was also shared on the X platform here and here.
This claim has gone viral as online newspapers also published it here and here.
Background
Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), has been in the custody of the Department of State Security Services (DSS) since 2021.
He’s currently standing trial at the Nigerian high court over alleged terrorism by the Nigerian government.
Last week, a new judge,. James Omotosho was assigned to handle his start-afresh case after he (Kanu) accused Binta Nyako, the former Judge handling the trial of bias.
Our findings
First, there was no
Checks on the official account of the Nigerian Senate on Facebook indicated that the plenary session was last held on Wednesday, 12th March 2025. This confirmed that the claim was FALSE and MISLEADING as the plenary didn’t hold on Friday, 14th March 2025.
FACTWATCH Nigeria did a Google Image Reverse and discovered that the image showing rowdy plenary session at the Senate which was attached to the claim, first appeared online in May 2024.
In 2024, Premium Times used this photo as a featured image of the report that “a Nigerian lawmaker criticizes the renovation of the Senate chamber.“
Using the picture as a Feature Image of the report, Premium Times captioned it “Nigerian senators during plenary at the newly-renovated chamber”
Also, in a statement by Senator Abaribe on Friday night, he declared the claim as a falsehood deliberately peddled to sabotage the ongoing efforts at exploring political solutions to secure Kanu’s freedom.
The legislator also urged Nigerians to ignore the speculation
He said, “The report is false and was, at best, a concoction that defies logic. It was a deliberate misinformation that insinuates a sinister motive aimed at sabotaging the ongoing efforts at exploring a political solution to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Senator Abaribe was last seen on the Senate floor last Wednesday and traveled out of Abuja on Thursday for an oversight function in Ikwuano Umuahia, Abia State organized by the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission
“In any case, the Senate does not sit on Fridays. It conducts its plenary sessions from Tuesdays to Thursdays, claiming a shutdown on a Friday baseless. Subjudice matters (under judicial consideration) are not debated in the Senate.”
Abaribe argued further that Kanu’s case is currently before the courts, and as a rule, the National Assembly does not interfere in judicial proceedings.
“Therefore, Senator Abaribe couldn’t have embarked on such an effort knowing its futility. The truth is that he did not lead any protest or obstructed legislative proceedings. The public is therefore urged to disregard this fabricated report and refrain from sharing unverified information.”
Verdict
This claim is FALSE and MISLEADING, as findings showed that the lawmaker didn’t shut down the N’Assembly on Friday.
