Akpabio’s aide distances self from viral unsigned letter on social media

Dr. Jibril Lawal Tafida, a Special Adviser to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has distanced himself from a damaging document circulating on social media, purportedly authored by him.

The document, styled as a letter to the Office of the President at Aso Villa and dated November 22, 2025, contains allegations of corruption in the National Assembly and claims of abandonment by the Senate President following the loss of his mother.

In a formal disclaimer issued on Saturday and titled “DISCLAIMER ON A FABRICATED DOCUMENT CIRCULATING IN MY NAME,” Tafida stated that he neither wrote nor authorised the controversial publication.

He described the unsigned letter as a deliberate attempt to weaponise his identity to malign the Senate leadership and create disaffection where none existed.

Dr. Tafida urged members of the public, media houses, political actors, digital distributors, and online publishers to disregard, retract, and desist from further circulating the false document.

His disclaimer reads in part: “My attention has been drawn to a lengthy text currently circulating in the media and online platforms, attributed to me and purporting to contain allegations against the President of the Senate, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON. I state unequivocally and without ambiguity that I did not write, author, endorse, or authorise the said document in any form.”

He noted that the claims contained in the publication were easily disprovable, adding:
“The content, tone, structure, and allegations contained therein have the clear intention of sowing discord, smearing reputations, and exploiting my name for political mischief — a cursory glance at the letter will immediately reveal the falsehood as the Senate President is not a member of the Tenders Board of the National Assembly, and therefore has nothing to do with contracts or contract awards in the Senate or NASS.

How then can he be accused of corruption in contract awards or contract padding? For further clarity, my brief stay here indicates that the entire premises of the National Assembly are owned and managed by the FCDA through its contractor, Laralex Nigeria Ltd. I reject in its entirety and distance myself completely from the publication.”

Dr. Tafida reaffirmed his respect for the Senate President, adding that his experience working with Senator Akpabio had been marked by professionalism and mutual trust.

“I continue to hold the President of the Senate in high esteem, both personally and professionally. Our working relationship has been cordial, respectful, and grounded in cooperation and mutual trust. At no time have I expressed or harboured the sentiments contained in the said document.”

He maintained that the forged letter was a calculated attempt to drag his name into political mischief.

“This is a deliberate attempt to weaponise my name to malign the leadership of the Senate and create disaffection where none exists. I urge the public, media organisations, political actors, and digital distributors to disregard, delete, retract, and desist from circulating it.”

Dr. Tafida concluded by restating his commitment to the Senate leadership.
“I reaffirm my loyalty to the Office of the President of the Senate and the Senate as a whole. I remain committed to supporting the work of the National Assembly in the interest of national stability, unity, and democratic progress.”

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