The Senate has denied the allegation that its leadership collected a $10 million bribe to block the confirmation of President Bola Tinubu’s nominee for the Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Abdullahi Ramat.
The allegation made by Alwan Hassan, a former Special Adviser to ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, had sparked controversy within political circles amid concerns about transparency in the appointment of regulatory heads in the power sector.
Ramat’s confirmation remains suspended pending further legislative and public review.
Reacting in a statement in Abuja on Friday, Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, dismissed the claim as baseless.
Adaramodu explained that the decision to step down Ramat’s screening was driven by ‘public and private complaints’ lodged against the nominee, not by any financial inducement.
According to him, the Red Chamber could not ignore petitions and concerns raised over the nominee’s suitability.
Adaramodu noted that the chamber had, in the past, stepped down nominees following adverse petitions, insisting that the legislature would not be pressured into confirming any appointee under a cloud of public concern.
‘Many nominees have stepped down due to such public outcry. The case of Mr. Ramat is not an exception’, he stated.
The spokesman also accused Hassan of attempting to blackmail the Senate.
‘Alwan has ludicrously alleged that the Senate was compromised by yet-to-be-disclosed ghosts to reject the nomination and confirmation of Ramat.
‘For the unsuspecting public not to be persuaded by the satanic verses, the Senate wishes to state that Mr. Garba Ramat has a baggage of public and private complaints against his nomination’, he added.
Adaramodu further stressed that the National Assembly would defend its integrity, warning that Hassan would be compelled in court to produce evidence of the alleged $10 million bribe.
‘No one can drag the institution of the National Assembly into public opprobrium with unfathomable allegations in order to arm-twist the legislature.
‘The Senate will definitely engage Mr. Alwan in court to provide Nigerians with proof of his assertions’, Adaramodu said.
Adaramodu maintained that lawmakers had no personal dealings with the nominee.
‘We didn’t know and had no prior encounter with Ramat until his nomination came for screening. The Senate is bound to listen to and consider any issues raised against him by the people he was nominated to serve’, he added.
