Facing a lawsuit from the Senate, Alwan Hassan, a former aide to ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has publicly retracted and apologised for his false allegation that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his deputy collected a $10 million bribe to stall a presidential nominee’s confirmation.
Alwan Hassan, a former special adviser to former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has fully retracted his claim that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Barau Jibrin received a $10 million bribe to drop President Tinubu’s nominee for the electricity regulatory commission, Abdullahi Ramat. The public apology comes just a week after the Senate threatened to sue him over the allegation, which had fueled public distrust in the power sector. Hassan admitted the claims were based on misleading conversations, stating, “I have since come to realise that the claim was not only untrue, but unfair and uncharitable,” and consequently announced, “I therefore retract that statement fully and unreservedly.” The Senate had previously dismissed the allegation, insisting the nominee’s confirmation was stalled due to public complaints, not bribes.