Group Seeks Probe OF Farouk Ahmed

A civil society organisation, the Transparency Advocacy Center (TAC), has called on the federal government to order an independent investigation into allegations of unexplained wealth against former chief executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Farouk Ahmed, and to place him on immediate administrative leave.

In a statement issued yesterday, TAC said the demand followed recent public disclosures and documented claims attributed to industrialist Alhaji Aliko Dangote, alleging that the NMDPRA boss spent about $5 million, estimated at over ₦8 billion on the secondary and tertiary education of his children in Switzerland and the United States.

According to the group, the alleged expenditure appears grossly inconsistent with the official earnings and lawful income of a career public servant in Nigeria, raising serious concerns about transparency and accountability in the management of public office.

TAC noted that the allegations come at a time Nigeria is facing deep economic hardship, with many families in states such as Sokoto and Katsina struggling to afford basic school fees of about ₦10,000.

The organisation described the matter as one of urgent national interest that requires a clear explanation to maintain public confidence in regulatory institutions.

The group urged the Federal Government to direct Engr. Ahmed to step aside to allow for an unhindered investigation, warning that remaining in office could compromise the integrity of internal records and the investigative process.

It also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Code of Conduct Bureau to immediately commence a transparent inquiry into the assets and foreign currency expenditures of the NMDPRA chief, in line with existing anti-corruption laws and the Code of Conduct for public officers.

TAC further demanded full public disclosure of the source of funds used to pay the alleged tuition fees, stressing that if the money was obtained through legitimate means, such proof should be made available to Nigerians to restore trust in the petroleum regulatory framework.

“Public office is a trust, not a means for personal enrichment or economic sabotage,” the organisation warned, adding that failure to act on the allegations would amount to tolerating impunity.

The statement was signed by Comrade Kabir Shehu Yandaki, Executive Director of the Transparency Advocacy Center for Social Justice and Reform Initiative and Secretary General of the Coalition of Civil Society, who pledged that the group would continue to monitor the case to ensure accountability and justice.