Amid allegations of bribery to frustrate the screening and confirmation of Mr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat as Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, the Senate on Friday night explained why the process was halted.
Alwan Hassan, a former Special Adviser to ex–Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, had alleged that the leadership of the 10th Senate took a bribe of $10 million to stop 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 said the decision of the Red Chamber to step down the screening and confirmation of Abdullahi Garba Ramat for the office of Chairman of NERC was informed by what he called “a baggage of public and private complaints against his nomination.”
Senator Adaramodu, who recalled instances when “many nominees have stepped down due to such public outcry,” urged the public not to be swayed by the allegations of bribery.
The Senate further hinted at a possible lawsuit against Mr. Alwan in court to compel him to provide Nigerians with proof of his assertions.
“The attention of the Senate has been drawn to the uncoordinated cacophony of one innocuous Alwan Hassan, who is a hand-tool to one Mr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat. Refreshing the memories of Nigerians, Mr. Ramat is the yet-to-be-confirmed Chief Executive of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
“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 not to be persuaded by the satanic verses of this politically feckless mercenary, the Senate wishes to state that Mr. Garba Ramat has a baggage of public and private complaints against his nomination. The Senate is bound statutorily to halt actions on him or on whoever is under such public questioning. Many nominees have stepped down due to such public outcry.
“The case of Mr. Ramat is not an exception. No one can drag the institution of the National Assembly into public opprobrium with unfathomable allegations in order to arm-twist the legislature. Nigerians would like to have appointees who go through watertight screening processes, rather than those who bully their way through blackmail.
“The Senate will definitely engage Mr. Alwan in court to provide Nigerians with proof of his assertions. The Senate is an institution of noble Nigerians that respects the views, opinions, complaints, and compliments of citizens through legislative oversight and other constitutional functions. We did not know and had no prior encounter with Mr. Ramat until his nomination came for screening, and the Senate is bound to listen to and consider any issues raised against him by the people he was nominated to serve.”
Recall that in August 2025, Ramat was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as NERC Chairman.
