The Nigerian Senate has announced plans to commence investigations into serious allegations leveled against Farouk Ahmed, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), as lawyers protested for the second consecutive day at the National Assembly on Tuesday.
The protesting lawyers, who submitted a formal petition to the leadership of the National Assembly, are demanding an immediate investigation into allegations of corruption, abuse of office, and conflict of interest against the NMDPRA boss.
Senator Kawu Ismaila, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Oil and Gas, who received the petition on behalf of the Senate, assured the protesters that the upper chamber would thoroughly investigate the allegations.
"One of our constitutional rights is to do oversight. We will look into the allegations, those who are concerned should come and defend themselves," Senator Ismaila stated.
He further explained that the Senate would conduct the investigation in accordance with the law, saying, "We will invite you to come and defend the petition. We will call you to come and defend the allegation because we must do it in accordance with the law."
The petition, signed by Samuel Ihensekhien Jnr. and three others, described the allegations against Ahmed as "abuse of office and a betrayal of the trust of the Nigerian people." It also called for sweeping reforms in the appointment of regulatory agency heads in the oil and gas sector.
The petitioners are demanding several actions, including a public hearing into the allegations, the immediate suspension of Ahmed to prevent interference with investigations, and referral of the matter to anti-corruption agencies such as the EFCC, ICPC, and the Code of Conduct Bureau.
"This is a defining moment for the National Assembly to rise in defense of public interest, uphold its constitutional oversight duty, and send a strong message that corruption, abuse of power, and impunity have no place in the Federal Republic of Nigeria," the petition emphasized.
The petition has garnered support from several civil society organizations, including the Situation Room for Oil Sector Reforms, the Concerned Young Professionals Network, and the Coalition for Public Accountability (COPA).
The Senate's decision to investigate comes at a critical time for Nigeria's petroleum sector, which has faced ongoing challenges with transparency and regulatory oversight. The outcome of this investigation could have significant implications for governance in the oil and gas industry, which remains the backbone of Nigeria's economy.
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