Saawua Terzungwe
The Senate has denied allegations that its leadership received a $10 million bribe to block the screening and confirmation of Abdullahi Garba Ramat as Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
There were claims in some quarters that the leadership of the upper chamber collected the alleged bribe to frustrate Ramat’s appointment.
But reacting on Friday, the Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), described the allegation as baseless and mischievous.
Recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had on October 7, 2025, requested the Senate to confirm Ramat as NERC’s chairman. Tinubu’s request was contained in a letter read during plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
However, since then, the Senate has not acted on the request.
Senator Adaramodu explained that the Senate decided to suspend Ramat’s screening and confirmation due to “a baggage of public and private complaints” raised against his nomination.
“The Senate is statutorily bound to pause consideration of any nominee facing serious public petitions or controversies. Many nominees in the past have been stepped down for similar reasons. Mr. Ramat’s case is no exception,” he said.
The Senate Spokesman stressed that the upper chamber would not succumb to blackmail or allow individuals to undermine its integrity through false allegations.
“No one can drag the National Assembly into disrepute with unfounded claims in an attempt to arm-twist the legislature,” Adaramodu said. “We will engage Mr. Alwan in court to provide Nigerians with evidence to support his assertions,” he added.
He added that the Senate had no prior dealings with Ramat before his nomination and only acted on concerns raised by the public regarding his suitability for the role.
“Nigerians deserve appointees who pass through rigorous and transparent screening processes, not those who attempt to bully their way into office through falsehood and blackmail,” he added.
