Alleged Corruption: EFCC, ICPC Yet To Receive Petition Against NMDPRA Boss

Following the call for the probe of the the chief executive officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, over allegations of economic sabotage and corruption, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was yet to get a formal petition calling for the probe.

LEADERSHIP investigation revealed that the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Crimes Commission (ICPC) only read about the allegations in the media while there was no formal petition yet from any individual or groups calling for Ahmed’s probe.

However, sources within the antigraft agencies revealed that even if there are no formal petition, the agencies are empowered to go and investigate allegations made through any channel.

According to the sources, “we don’t need to get a petition to investigate allegations, especially when it has been made in the public space. One of the sources of our cases for investigation is also the media. So, the commission can investigate issues already raised in the public space like the media.”

Recall that African richest man, Alh. Aliko Dangote, during a media briefing in Lagos on Sunday, alleged that Ahmed paid about $5million, and estimate of about N7 billion, as secondary school fees for his four children in Switzerland secondary school.

Dangote also accused the NMDPRA boss of economic sabotage, alleging that regulatory actions under him were being used to encourage fuel importers to undermine his refinery operations.

Meanwhile, an energy expert and President of the Nigeria Consumer Protection Network, Kunle Olubiyo, has described the reported sum as enormous, stating that such an amount could comfortably be used to establish a modular refinery in Nigeria.

He said “That is humongous. That amount can conveniently establish a functional modular refinery in Nigeria.”

Olubiyo further urged relevant anti-corruption agencies to thoroughly investigate the allegations made by Dangote against Ahmed in the interest of transparency and accountability.