Oil Regulatory Authority CEO Not Corrupt – Groups

Some civil society organisations (CSOs) have risen to the defense of the chief executive officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr Farouk Ahmed, over allegations of corruption against him.

The chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, had on Sunday accused Ahmed of corruption, claiming that he paid $5 million in fees for four of his children in Swiss schools.
But in a reaction yesterday in Abuja, the CSOs dismissed Dangote’s allegations, describing them “as false, unfounded and unsupported by evidence”.

At a joint press conference in Abuja, the groups described the allegations as a calculated attempt to discredit the leadership of the NMDPRA over its firm stance against monopolistic practices in Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum sector.

Addressing journalists on behalf of the coalition, the convener, Comrade Ibrahim Bello, who is the national coordinator of the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CFTPI), stated that the organisations had conducted internal reviews and assessments, finding no basis whatsoever for the corruption claims against the NMDPRA boss.

“Our findings clearly show that Mr Farouk Ahmed has not engaged in any corrupt practice. Rather, he has been repositioning the downstream sector to promote fairness, competition and efficiency, while ensuring that no single entity monopolises the industry to the detriment of Nigerians,” Bello stated.

He added that the leadership of the NMDPRA under Ahmed had remained faithful to the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), strengthening regulatory transparency and creating opportunities for more investors to participate in the sector.

The coalition specifically debunked claims by Dangote that the NMDPRA CEO paid $5 million as school fees for his children in Switzerland, stressing that no proof or verifiable evidence had been provided to substantiate such assertions.
According to the CSOs, making such grave allegations in the media without recourse to due process poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s regulatory institutions and reform agenda

They asked Nigerians to disregard the allegations and urged stakeholders in the petroleum sector to respect regulatory institutions.

The groups also appealed to the federal government to continue to support the independence and reform-driven leadership of the NMDPRA.

The coalition reaffirmed its confidence in Ahmed, describing him as a regulator whose actions had strengthened credibility, boosted stakeholders’ confidence and safeguarded the national interest in the country’s midstream and downstream petroleum industry.