Senate Denies Taking $10 Million Bribe to Block NERC Appointee, Threatens Legal Action Against Accuser

The Nigerian Senate today, Friday, November 7, 2025, moved decisively to protect its integrity by vehemently denying allegations that it collected a $10 million bribe to halt the screening and confirmation of one of President Bola Tinubu’s nominees for the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

In a statement issued in Abuja, the Senate spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, dismissed the claim reportedly made by public commentator, Mr. Alwan Hassan as “baseless,” “unfathomable,” and a clear attempt to “blackmail the Senate.”

The allegation surfaced after the Senate stepped down the screening of Mr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat, the nominee for the position of Chief Executive Officer of NERC, amidst calls for greater transparency in the power sector.

Public Complaints Cited as Reason for Delay

Senator Adaramodu provided the official reason for the delay, explaining that the decision was driven by a “baggage of public and private complaints” lodged against the nominee’s suitability for the sensitive regulatory role.

“The Senate wishes to state that Mr. Garba Ramat has a baggage of public and private complaints against his nomination,” Adaramodu noted. He insisted that the Red Chamber could not, and would not, ignore petitions and concerns raised over a nominee’s fitness, stressing that stepping down nominees due to adverse public outcry is not an exception but a legislative precedent.

Court Action Imminent

Senator Adaramodu did not mince words regarding the source of the allegation, accusing Mr. Hassan of attempting to drag the institution of the National Assembly into “public opprobrium” with what he termed “satanic verses” of financial compromise.

To defend its reputation, the Senate is preparing to take legal action.

“No one can drag the institution of the National Assembly into public opprobrium with unfathomable allegations in order to arm-twist the legislature,” the statement concluded. “The Senate will definitely engage Mr. Alwan in court to provide Nigerians with proof of his ludicrous allegation of a $10 million bribe.”

The warning serves notice that the Senate is prepared to fiercely defend its independence against what it views as politically motivated character assassination.