The Senate on Friday provided reasons for halting the screening and confirmation process of Mr. Abdullah Garba Ramat as Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The explanation comes amid allegations of bribery to frustrate the screening and confirmation of Abdullah Garba Ramat.
The ex-Special Adviser to Yemi Osibanjo, immediate past vice president, Alwan Hassan, had earlier claimed that the leadership of the 10th Senate accepted a bribe of $10 million to halt the confirmation of Ramat as the leader of NERC.
However, the Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, debunked the allegation in an official statement.
According to Adaramodu, “a baggage of public and private complaints against his nomination” was the reason for the Red Chamber’s stance to halt the screening and confirmation of Ramat as Chairman of NERC.
He recalled instances when “many nominees have stepped down due to such public outcry,” and urged the public not to be persuaded by the allegations of bribery.
The Senate further promised to take legal action against Alwan to provide Nigerians with proof of his allegations.
The statement reads in part: “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 stepped down due to such public outcry.
