The Senate has dismissed allegations that its leadership received a $10 million bribe to block the confirmation of Mr. Abdullah Garba Ramat as Chief Executive of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
Former Special Adviser to ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Alwan Hassan, had accused the leadership of the 10th Senate of taking the bribe to frustrate Ramat’s confirmation.
In a statement on Friday night, Senate Spokesman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, described the allegation as baseless and mischievous.
Adaramodu explained that the Senate’s decision to suspend Ramat’s screening and confirmation was based on what he termed “a baggage of public and private complaints against his nomination.”
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He noted that it was not the first time the Senate had stepped down nominees following public outcry, urging Nigerians to disregard the bribery allegation.
The Senate also threatened legal action against Alwan Hassan, demanding he provide evidence to substantiate his claims.
“The attention of the Senate has been drawn to the uncoordinated cacophony of one innocuous Alwan Hassan, who is a hand-tool to Mr. Abdullah Garba Ramat,” the statement added.
“Refreshing the memories of Nigerians, Mr. Ramat is the yet to be confirmed Chief Executive of the Nigerian Electricity Regulation 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 political 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 been stepped down due to such public outcry. “The case of Mr Ramat is not an exemption. 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 ways through blackmail.
” The Senate would definitely engage Mr Alwan at the court, to provide Nigerians with the proof of his assertions.
“The Senate is an institution of noble Nigerians, that respect the views, opinions, complaints and compliments of the citizens through Legislative oversight and other constitutional functions.
‘We don’t know and had no prior encounter with Mr Ramat, until his nomination came for screening and the Senate is bound to listen and consider any issues raised against him by the people, who he was nominated to serve.”
