The Senate has dismissed allegations that its leadership received a $10 million bribe to block the screening and confirmation of Mr Abdullahi Garba Ramat as Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Sen. Yemi Adaramodu (APC–Ekiti South), made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
Adaramodu described the allegation as “baseless and mischievous,” saying the Senate only suspended Ramat’s screening following several public and private petitions challenging 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.
He explained that the decision to step down the screening was in line with the legislature’s responsibility to uphold transparency and due process in all confirmation proceedings.
“The Senate will not succumb to blackmail or allow anyone to drag the National Assembly into disrepute with unfounded claims. We will engage Mr Alwan in court to provide Nigerians with evidence to support his assertions,” he added.
The lawmaker said the upper chamber had no prior dealings with Ramat before his nomination, noting that the suspension of his screening was purely based on concerns raised by the public about his suitability for the position.
“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,” Adaramodu said.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had on Oct. 7, 2025, requested the Senate to confirm Ramat as NERC Chairman, through a letter read at plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Since then, the Senate has yet to take further action on the request.