By Truth Live News International Correspondent
Documents made available to Truth Live News International and forwarded to our correspondent in London reveal that a former Commissioner of the Federal Civil Service Commission FCSC, Mr Henry Omoregie Williams Idahagbon, has petitioned the President of the Senate over allegations of corruption made against him by Senator Adams Oshiomhole during a Senate confirmation hearing.
In the petition addressed to the Senate President, Idahagbon accused the Edo North senator of making what he described as reckless, false and malicious allegations bordering on corruption in recruitment and promotion processes at the Federal Civil Service Commission. He maintained that the claims were unsupported by evidence and amounted to an abuse of senatorial privilege.
According to the petition, Idahagbon’s tenure as FCSC commissioner expired on 26 August 2025, after which he was re nominated by the President for reappointment subject to Senate confirmation. It was during plenary consideration of his confirmation that Senator Oshiomhole allegedly objected, citing sweeping allegations of corruption.
Idahagbon stated that but for the protection of parliamentary privilege, he would have immediately instituted a libel action to defend his reputation. He challenged the senator to repeat the allegations outside the Senate chamber, where privilege would not apply and where facts rather than insinuations would be required.
The former commissioner alleged that the objection was rooted in personal grievances rather than genuine concern for probity. He claimed that on 15 August 2023, Senator Oshiomhole forwarded an examination number belonging to a woman personally associated with him and instructed that she be ensured a pass and promotion. Idahagbon said the candidate failed the examination woefully and that he refused to interfere with or manipulate the process in line with civil service rules and ethical standards.
He further stated that he is in possession of the examination scripts which allegedly show poor performance and offered to submit them to the Senate for independent verification. He alleged that following his refusal, the senator became angry and later subjected him to prolonged verbal abuse in the presence of a legal practitioner who could testify to the incident.
Idahagbon also linked the hostility to political disagreements surrounding the 2024 Edo State governorship election. He said he openly opposed Oshiomhole’s support for a candidate from Edo South, citing equity, zoning principles and public allegations of financial compromise. He noted that he expressed these views during a nationally televised political interview programme.
Describing the situation as ironic, the former commissioner said the same senator now accusing him of corruption had previously appointed or recommended him for several sensitive positions, including Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Edo State, Secretary General of the Oshiomhole Campaign Organisation and nominee for appointment to the Federal Civil Service Commission.
He further accused Senator Oshiomhole of misrepresenting his senatorial standing during plenary, stressing that the senator represents Edo North Senatorial District while he hails from Edo South, which is represented by a different senator.
Addressing the substance of the corruption allegations, Idahagbon explained that there had been a federal embargo on employment since 2020, except for a special waiver in 2023 which allowed the recruitment of 1,350 persons nationwide, with only 18 slots allocated to Edo State. He disclosed that the first person employed under his Edo allocation was Taofiq Oshiomhole and said copies of employment letters were attached to the petition for independent verification.
“If any one of them proves that he or she paid me one naira in connection with employment, I will voluntarily submit myself to the EFCC,” he stated.
On promotion matters, Idahagbon maintained that promotions at the Federal Civil Service Commission are collective, transparent and institutional processes involving the chairman, all commissioners and relevant departments, making it impossible for a single commissioner to manipulate outcomes.
He said the allegations had caused serious reputational damage, adding that his family, including his children, had been inundated with calls since the Senate session. He described it as the first time in his entire public career that he had been accused of corruption.
Idahagbon urged the Senate to invite him to defend himself, compel Senator Oshiomhole to substantiate his claims and discourage what he described as the abuse of parliamentary privilege for personal vendetta, while upholding his constitutional right to fair hearing.
Truth Live News International will continue to monitor developments as the Senate considers the petition.