The claim that the Senate’s failure to confirm Mr Abdullah Garba Ramat, as Chief Executive of the Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission was financially motivated, has invited pushback from the senators.
Mr Ramat was nominated for the role by President Bola Tinubu but his screening suffered hiccup on Friday in the Red Chamber as the agenda was stepped down.
Thereafter, former Special Adviser to former Vice President, Yemi Osibanjo, Alwan Hassan, has his say on the matter, alleging that the Senate was bribed with $10m by unnamed adversaries of the nominee for his confirmation to fall through.
The bribery claim has drawn denial from the Senate through its Spokesman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu.
Adaramodu in the rebuttal attributed the problem with Mr Ramat’s screening to barrage of petitions against him, and threatening Hassan with legal action.
The spokesman wrote in the statement, “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 Abdullah Garba Ramat.
“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.”
