The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has announced automatic employment for two sons of his police rider, Deputy Superintendent of Police Hussani Ibrahim, who died in a motor accident on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.
Akpabio disclosed this on Tuesday during plenary while formally notifying lawmakers of the death of the officer, who served as his dispatch rider.
According to a report by Premium Times, DSP Ibrahim lost his life on Sunday after a petrol tanker rammed into the Senate President’s convoy in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The incident occurred shortly after Akpabio was picked up from the airport, following his attendance at the chieftaincy conferment ceremony of Senator AbdulAzeez Yari and Seyi Tinubu in Oyo.
Speaking during plenary, Akpabio said, “We went to Oyo State for the installation of our colleague and the vehicles that came to pick me at the Ibadan airport… Unfortunately, my dispatch rider was run over by a tanker driver, and his head was shattered. We just buried him 15 minutes ago in Kogi State. He left two wives and four children.”
He appealed to heads of ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government to offer automatic employment to the deceased officer’s children, assuring that he would personally intervene if vacancies were unavailable.
“By the grace of God, I’m recommending two of his senior children for employment immediately in any parastatals that may wish to, otherwise I’ll employ them personally in any of my private concerns,” Akpabio added.
In an emotional tribute, the Senate President described the late officer as disciplined and devoted to duty, noting that his death occurred in active service.
Addressing the bereaved family, he said, “Your late father understood the value of work and service. He devoted himself to it. Unfortunately, instead of earning a laurel for the devotion, he earned death.
“But it is death that is not in vain. It is death that testifies to his legacy of service. May the Lord accept his soul.”
Akpabio also commiserated with the family of the deceased, the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force.
“I commiserate with the family, the Inspector General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force over the loss of this courageous, fearless, and daring officer.
“While I pray to God to accept his soul, may He in His infinite mercy grant the family and the Nigeria Police Force the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,” he said.
Shortly after the announcement, the Senator representing Kogi West, Sunday Karimi, raised a motion for personal explanation to formally present the incident to the Senate.
Karimi, while sympathising with the Senate President, disclosed that the late officer, a native of Kogi State, was due for retirement next year and had served in Akpabio’s convoy since 2023.
The Senate also paid tribute on Tuesday to Alhaji Ibrahim Tukur, a driver who served for 25 years under the Senator representing Kogi East, Jibrin Echocho.
Lawmakers observed a minute’s silence in honour of both deceased officers and offered prayers for the repose of their souls.