$10m Bribery Scandal: Police Grill Alwan Hassan Over Allegations Against Akpabio, Barau
The Nigeria Police Force has commenced investigations into a serious bribery allegation involving the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and his Deputy, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, following claims that both lawmakers received $10 million to halt the confirmation of Abdullahi Garba Ramat as Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The accuser, Alwan Hassan, was reportedly grilled in Abuja after publicly asserting that top operators in the power sector bribed the Senate leadership to stop Ramat’s confirmation. Alwan had made the allegation during an interview with journalists in Kano last week.
According to him, electricity Generation Companies (Gencos) and Distribution Companies (Discos) were “jittery” over expected reforms under Ramat, prompting them to allegedly offer a $10 million inducement to the Senate’s top officials to block the confirmation process.
“As usual, Nigerians must enjoy the services they pay for. In doing that, the Gencos and Discos became jittery. There is a strong allegation that the Gencos and Discos… bribed Akpabio and Barau $10 million to subvert his (Ramat’s) confirmation,” Alwan had told newsmen.
Police sources confirmed that Alwan was invited to substantiate his claims with detailed evidence.
“Let him expatiate further on the allegations — who are the industry players; when and where the money was given? Let him furnish us with all this information,” the source said.
Meanwhile, the Senate had earlier dismissed the bribery allegation as reckless, baseless, and mischievous. Senate Spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), insisted that the suspension of Ramat’s screening was due to a “baggage of public and private complaints” against the nominee — not bribe-taking.
“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,” Adaramodu explained.
He reaffirmed that the Senate would not allow its integrity to be undermined, stating:
“No one can 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.”
As the police intensify investigations, the unfolding development has sparked renewed conversations about transparency, accountability, and the influence of vested interests in Nigeria’s troubled power sector.