Buhari heads to London for medical checkup

President Muhammadu Buhari will depart Abuja later on Monday for a “routine” medical checkup in London, United Kingdom (UK).

Femi Adesina, the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, announced the imminent trip.

He said Buhari is expected back in the country in the second week of November.

“President Muhammadu Buhari leaves for London, United Kingdom, October 31, 2022, for routine medical check-up,” the terse statement reads.

“He returns to the country in the second week of November 2022.”

The trip is Buhari’s first medical checkup since March 2022 when he also travelled to the UK for the same purpose.

The president spent close to two weeks in the UK during that trip, which was similarly labelled “routine medical checks”.

While away during his last trip, Buhari had said Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo would be in charge.

“The government is fully represented; the vice-president is there. Constitutionally, when I’m away, he’s in charge. And the secretary to the government and then the chief of staff. So, I have no problem,” Buhari said.

However, the president did not say if he sent a letter to the national assembly as required by the constitution.

The last time the president sent a letter to that effect to the national assembly was in August 2018.