A coalition of lawyers and civil society organizations (CSOs) has formally petitioned the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to investigate Engr. Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), over allegations of misappropriating over $5 million in public funds.
The petition, delivered during a protest at the AGF's office in Abuja on Monday, alleges that Ahmed diverted these funds to finance his children's education at elite institutions in Switzerland and India, with tuition fees reportedly amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Barrister Aquila Kendo, Convener of Concerned Nigerian Youths Forum, who signed the petition, also raised serious conflict of interest concerns, claiming that Ahmed's son is employed by Oando PLC, a company regulated by the NMDPRA.
The petitioners linked recent NMDPRA scrutiny of Dangote Refinery's petrol quality to this alleged conflict of interest, suggesting potential bias in regulatory decisions.
Legal Violations Cited
The petition outlines multiple legal provisions allegedly violated by Ahmed's actions, including Section 172 of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates public officers to act in the public interest and avoid corruption.
"The diversion of public funds or influence-peddling to sponsor private education abroad directly contradicts this provision," the petition states.
Additional violations cited include provisions from the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, the Public Procurement Act 2007, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, and the Petroleum Industry Act.
Demands for Action
The coalition has made several demands, including:
- Immediate suspension of Engr. Farouk Ahmed from his position
- Coordinated investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), and Code of Conduct Bureau
- Swift prosecution if allegations are substantiated following investigations
- Implementation of systemic reforms within NMDPRA to prevent similar occurrences in the future
This development comes amid growing scrutiny of Nigeria's petroleum regulatory framework and ongoing tensions between NMDPRA and domestic refiners, particularly the Dangote Refinery, over fuel quality standards and import regulations.
As of publication time, neither the AGF's office nor NMDPRA has issued an official response to these allegations.
