The Senate has expressed disapproval over a petition filed against Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele by the Convener of the Public Procurement Transparency Group, David Udoh.
The petition, addressed to the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission, Dr. Musa Aliyu (SAN), alleged that Bamidele intimidated and pressured the CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency, Mr. Abba Aliyu, to award contracts to companies linked to him, contrary to the Public Procurement Act, 2007.
However, the Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, Office of the Senate Leader, described the allegation as “baseless” and “without any evidence in support of its claims.”
The statement noted that the REA has already disputed the claims, stating that it was never under pressure “to compromise the integrity of its procurement process” and always upholds transparency, fairness, and due process in its activities.
The statement further read, “We have endured enough of all sorts of cheap blackmail by faceless groups and individuals using some bloggers and social media to feed the unsuspecting public with falsehoods and fallacies capable of causing further damage not just to the image of the National Assembly, but also to the public perception of Nigeria, especially among comity of nations.”
The statement also revealed that preliminary background checks showed that the Public Procurement Transparency group has no record with the Corporate Affairs Commission, and its Convener, David Udoh, is “faceless” with an inactive phone contact. Additionally, the group never submitted any petition to ICPC, and its sole aim was to use social media to blackmail Sen. Bamidele.
The statement concluded: “Henceforth, we shall no more treat cases of cheap blackmail against the senate, its leadership and the national assembly lightly. But we shall treat such infractions within the confine of extant laws and whoever found guilty in the process shall face the full wrath of the laws.”
