President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio and his Deputy, Senator Barau Jibrin, have slammed legal charges against Alwan Hassan, a former Special Adviser to former Vice President, Yemi Osibanjo, and one other, for alleging that the National Assembly leaders took a bribe of $10 million to stop the confirmation of the appointed Chairman of NERC, Abdullahi Garba Ramat.
The Convener and Director General of the Tinubu, Barau Support Groups Coalition, Hafiz Sani Liman, gave details of the lawsuit at a press conference to counter the allegations, saying the claims that Goodwill Akpabio and Barau were bribed $10 million to subvert Ramat’s confirmation have been handed over to the courts.
He said, “The suit is in response to the false, malicious, and politically motivated allegations made against the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau I. Jibrin, CFR, by the defunct Gawuna Campaign Organisation on the confirmation of Abdullahi Garba Ramat as Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC.”
He explained that Alwan Hassan and others’ aims is to solely tarnish the hard-earned reputation of the Deputy President of the Senate and portray him in a bad light in the face of the good people of Kano State, who are solidly behind him.
“The press conference, jointly addressed by Muhammadu Badaru Umar and Alwan Hassan, was filled with lies, mischief, misinformation, and fabrication by the leadership of the Gawuna Campaign Organisation, who by virtue of their membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) should team up with the Deputy President of the Senate to restore the glorious days of our party in Kano.
“As Nigerians, we are all aware that, in line with our country’s constitution, it is the prerogative of the President to appoint whomever he wants to hold any public office in the country, including that of NERC. ”
He reminded that following the nomination of Engineer Ramat, the Deputy President of the Senate, lobbied his colleagues to ensure the successful screening and confirmation of the nominee. The nominee can attest to this fact, as he’s been involved in the process.
“It is, therefore, mischievous and laughable for anyone to suggest that Senator Barau is scheming to subvert the confirmation. The confirmation process route has not been completed. The screening has been carried out by the Senate Committee on Power under the Chairmanship of Senator Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe. The report is expected to be presented on the Senate floor soon. ”
“Regarding the allegations that the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, and Senator Barau were bribed $10 million to subvert Ramat’s confirmation, we have instructed our lawyers to initiate legal action against these alleged agents of mischief and lies.”
“We call on well-meaning Nigerians, especially the people of Kano, to disregard these lies and see them for what they truly are an attempt by frustrated political actors to discredit a man whose commitment to good governance and national development is evident to all.”