Protest: Senate To Probe NMDPRA Boss

The Senate is set to investigate Farouk Ahmed, the managing director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) Farouk Ahmed as the protest of some lawyers at the National Assembly (NASS) entered day two yesterday.

The lawyers returned to the National Assembly yesterday, calling on the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to ensure the suspension and prosecution of Ahmed.

The lawyers made grave allegations of corruption, abuse of office, and conflict of interest against Ahmed.

In the petition signed by Samuel Ihensekhien Jnr and three others, they demanded that the National Assembly commence an immediate investigation and recommend Ahmed’s immediate suspension, sack and arrest.

Senator Kawu Ismaila, chairman of the Senate Committee on Oil and Gas, who received the petition on behalf of the Senate, promised to liaise with other committee members and investigate the agency.

“One of our constitutional rights is to do oversight. We will look into the allegation; those concerned should come and defend themselves.

“We will invite you to come and defend the petition. We will call you to defend the allegation because we must do so by law.

“When we have a copy of the petition, we will sit down with your leaders, examine the allegation, and act according to the law.”

The petitioners also called for freezing Ahmed’s local and offshore assets and sweeping reforms in the appointment and oversight of regulatory agency heads in the oil and gas sector.

The lawyers described Ahmed’s actions as a clear abuse of office, a betrayal of the Nigerian people’s trust, and a severe breach of the fiduciary duty required of all public servants.

“We urge the Senate to commence an immediate and public investigative hearing into these allegations, summoning Mr Farouk Ahmed and relevant stakeholders.

“Recommend his immediate sack and suspension from office to prevent interference with ongoing investigations. Refer this matter to the EFCC, ICPC, and the Code of Conduct Bureau for coordinated criminal investigation and prosecution.

“If he has absconded from Nigeria, immediately call for collaboration with international security agencies like Interpol to ensure his extradition back to Nigeria and freeze his local and offshore assets.

“Institute sweeping reforms in the appointment, conduct, and oversight of regulatory agency heads in the oil and gas sector.

“This is a defining moment for the National Assembly to rise in defence 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 is backed by civil society organisations, including the Situation Room for Oil Sector Reforms, the Concerned Young Professionals Network, and the Coalition for Public Accountability (COPA), which have held protests calling for Ahmed’s suspension and prosecution.