By Peter Omopo
A former Special Adviser to ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Alwan Hassan, on Tuesday publicly apologised to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin after accusing them of receiving a $10 million bribe to halt the confirmation of President Bola Tinubu’s nominee for Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Abdullahi Ramat.
Hassan’s apology comes days after the Senate threatened legal action over the allegation, which had ignited controversy amid ongoing public distrust surrounding federal appointments in the power sector.
Addressing journalists during a press briefing in Abuja, Hassan traced the episode to his efforts to push for Ramat’s confirmation. He recalled that the nominee had been screened and “strongly recommended” by the Senate Committee on Power, only for his name to be removed from the Order Paper afterwards.
The APC chieftain admitted that he granted media interviews where he repeated rumours alleging that Akpabio and Barau accepted a $10 million inducement — a claim he now says was made in error.
He explained, “I also referenced a claim alleging that they received $10 million in bribes to stall Ramat’s confirmation. That allegation came from conversations I had while trying to understand the issues.
“I have since come to realise that the claim was not only untrue but unfair and uncharitable to both the National Assembly and its leadership.”
Hassan formally retracted the allegation and offered an unconditional apology to the Senate leadership.
“I therefore retract that statement fully and unreservedly, and I apologise to the National Assembly and its leadership for those accusations,” he said, appealing to lawmakers to forgive his “excesses” and reconsider Ramat’s pending nomination.
Last week, Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu dismissed Hassan’s earlier comments, describing him as “one innocuous Alwan Hassan” acting as “a hand-tool” for the nominee. He insisted that no bribe was offered or accepted, saying Ramat’s confirmation was suspended due to “public and private complaints” lodged against him.
“Many nominees have stepped down due to such public outcry. The case of Mr Ramat is not an exception,” Adaramodu said, warning that the Senate would require Hassan to provide evidence of his allegations in court.
Hassan, however, said his actions were driven by “passion and advocacy taken too far,” and thanked political allies who supported him during what he described as his recent engagement with the police.
Ramat’s nomination remains on hold as the Senate continues to review petitions and other concerns surrounding his appointment.
