By Louis Achi
A cabinet nominee, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, slumped while being screened by the Senate on Wednesday, sparking frantic scenes in the Chamber.
The nominee, who is from Kaduna State, touted to be Mallam El-Rufai’s replacement, had spoken for several minutes during his screening before falling to the floor with several lawmakers rushing to his aid.
Lawal is one of the three new ministerial nominees being screened by the Senate, with others being Dr Jamila Bio Ibrahim from Kwara State and Mr Ayodele Olawande from Ondo State.
He was the second nominee to be screened before the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, moved a motion to extend the sitting time beyond 2 pm to conclude all the items for the day.
He had finished making his presentation to the lawmakers and was about taking questions from them when he fell to the floor.
The Senate went into a closed door session while efforts are being made to revive the nominee who is still inside the chamber at the time of this report.
TheNewDiplomat gathered the ministerial nominee was fasting when he appeared for the screening which may have contributed to his collapse. Though he is said to have been stabilized it is not yet clear if his screening will continue.
