THE Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Farouk Ahmed, has distanced himself from a viral statement circulating on social media purportedly issued in response to corruption allegations made against him by the President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.
Ahmed, in a brief but firm statement made available to News Point Nigeria late on Wednesday, denied authorising or issuing any public response to the allegations, describing the circulating statement as false and unauthorised.
The denial comes amid growing controversy following comments by Dangote during a press briefing at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lekki, Lagos, on Sunday, where the billionaire industrialist called for a comprehensive investigation into the source of funds allegedly used by Ahmed to educate his children abroad.
Dangote alleged that the NMDPRA chief spent approximately $5 million on the secondary school education of four of his children in Switzerland over a six-year period, a figure he described as disturbing and incompatible with the earnings of a public official.
“I’ve actually had people making complaints about a regulator who has actually put his children in secondary school. And that secondary school education, which is six years, four of them cost Nigeria $5 million. You cannot imagine somebody paying $5 million for educating four children,” Dangote said at the briefing.
The businessman further urged Ahmed to appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal to publicly account for his assets and financial dealings, alleging that the matter raised serious questions of integrity, transparency and public accountability.
Dangote also confirmed that he had formally petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), asking the anti-graft agency to investigate Ahmed’s financial activities.
He claimed that the alleged conduct of the regulator amounted to economic sabotage capable of undermining public trust and investor confidence, particularly in light of NMDPRA’s role in issuing fuel importation licences.
On Tuesday, a statement purportedly signed by Ahmed surfaced on social media, attempting to rebut Dangote’s allegations. However, officials of the NMDPRA told reporters that the statement did not originate from the agency or its chief executive.
In his clarification, Ahmed categorically denied any involvement with the viral statement, stressing that he had deliberately refrained from responding publicly to the allegations.
“My attention has been drawn to a purported response I was said to have made on the recent allegations against my person. I hereby state categorically that the so-called statement did not emanate from me,” he said.
He acknowledged awareness of the allegations and the public debate they had generated but said he had chosen restraint in the interest of his office.
“While I am aware of the wild and spurious allegations made against me and my family and the frenzy it has generated, as a regulator of a sensitive industry, I have opted not to engage in public brickbats,” Ahmed stated.
The NMDPRA boss expressed confidence in the investigative process, welcoming Dangote’s decision to refer the matter to the ICPC, which he said would offer a fair and impartial platform to resolve the controversy.
“Thankfully, the person behind the allegations has taken it to a formal investigative institution. I believe that would provide an opportunity to dispassionately distil the issues and to clear my name,” he concluded.