There was mild drama in the Senate on Tuesday when Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin said he was “not afraid of Trump.”
The incident happened during a session where Senate President Godswill Akpabio denied a fake report claiming he replied to U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments about killings of Christians in Nigeria.
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Akpabio said the report was false and was meant to cause diplomatic tension. He explained that the report used old photos and fake quotes, adding that only the Presidency—not the Senate—has the right to respond to foreign leaders.
“I have reported this fake news to the police and the DSS,” Akpabio said, warning that false reports could damage Nigeria’s image.
Senator Barau Jibrin then said, “I’m a Nigerian, and I can speak my mind. I’m not scared of Trump. We are a sovereign nation.”
His comments drew laughter in the chamber before Akpabio closed the discussion, urging journalists to verify reports before publishing.