Amid allegations of bribery to frustrate the screening and confirmation of Mr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat as Chairman of the Nigerian Electrical energy Regulatory Fee, NERC, the Senate on Friday evening defined why the method was halted.
Alwan Hassan, a former Particular Adviser to ex–Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, had alleged that the management of the tenth Senate took a bribe of $10 million to cease the confirmation of the nominee as Chairman of NERC.
Reacting, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, dismissed the allegation as unfounded.
The Senate spokesman stated the choice of the Crimson Chamber to step down the screening and confirmation of Abdullahi Garba Ramat for the workplace of Chairman of NERC was knowledgeable by what he known as “a baggage of private and non-private complaints in opposition to his nomination.”
Senator Adaramodu, who recalled situations when “many nominees have stepped down because of such public outcry,” urged the general public to not be swayed by the allegations of bribery.
The Senate additional hinted at a doable lawsuit in opposition to Mr. Alwan in court docket to compel him to offer Nigerians with proof of his assertions.
“The eye of the Senate has been drawn to the uncoordinated cacophony of one innocuous Alwan Hassan, who’s a hand-tool to 1 Mr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat. Refreshing the reminiscences of Nigerians, Mr. Ramat is the yet-to-be-confirmed Chief Govt of the Nigerian Electrical energy Regulatory Fee.
“Mr. Alwan has ludicrously alleged that the Senate was compromised by yet-to-be-disclosed ghosts to reject the nomination and confirmation of Mr. Ramat. For the unsuspecting public to not be persuaded by the satanic verses of this politically feckless mercenary, the Senate needs to state that Mr. Garba Ramat has a baggage of private and non-private complaints in opposition to his nomination. The Senate is sure statutorily to halt actions on him or on whoever is underneath such public questioning. Many nominees have stepped down because of such public outcry.
“The case of Mr. Ramat will not be an exception. Nobody can drag the establishment of the Nationwide Meeting into public opprobrium with unfathomable allegations in an effort to arm-twist the legislature. Nigerians want to have appointees who undergo watertight screening processes, moderately than those that bully their manner via blackmail.
“The Senate will certainly interact Mr. Alwan in court docket to offer Nigerians with proof of his assertions. The Senate is an establishment of noble Nigerians that respects the views, opinions, complaints, and compliments of residents via legislative oversight and different constitutional features. We didn’t know and had no prior encounter with Mr. Ramat till his nomination got here for screening, and the Senate is sure to hearken to and take into account any points raised in opposition to him by the folks he was nominated to serve.”
Recall that in August 2025, Ramat was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as NERC Chairman.
