Hot SourceSunday Aborisade in Abuja
A coalition of public interest lawyers and civil society organisations yesterday intensified their campaign against the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Farouk Ahmed.
They besieged the National Assembly to submit a detailed petition to the leadership of the House of Representatives over alleged corruption, abuse of office, and conflict of interest against the NMDPRA boss
The petition accused Ahmed of alleged gross financial misconduct, including the diversion of over $5 million in public funds purportedly used to finance the overseas education of his four children.
The legal coalition, supported by pressure groups such as the Situation Room for Oil Sector Reforms, the Concerned Young Professionals Network, and the Coalition for Public Accountability (COPA), called for his immediate suspension, investigation, and prosecution.
One of the lead petitioners, Samuel Ihensekhien, who addressed journalists at the National Assembly Complex, appealed to the federal lawmakers to probe the petition.
Ihensekhien said, “We are here again to demand accountability and transparency from Mr. Farouk Ahmed. His actions are a clear betrayal of public trust, and its time for him to face the consequences.”
The petition further highlights a glaring case of conflict of interest involving Ahmed’s son, Faisal Ahmed, who is allegedly employed by Oando Plc, one of the oil firms under the regulatory purview of NMDPRA.
The lawyers argue that the appointment undermines regulatory neutrality and threatens the integrity of the entire midstream and downstream oil sector.
Another lawyer, Jnr Desmond Tabakwot, said: “This is a clear case of corruption and abuse of office. We will not stand idly by while public officials loot our treasury and undermine our institutions.”
Among the demands laid out in the petition are: Immediate suspension of Farouk Ahmed from office and a comprehensive investigation and prosecution by anti-graft agencies.
They also demanded the freezing of all local and international assets linked to him through collaboration with international security agencies such as INTERPOL to facilitate possible extradition.
They called for institutional reforms in the appointment and oversight of regulatory heads in the oil and gas sector.
Dr. S. M. Oyeghe, another signatory to the petition, declared: “We will not rest until justice is served.
“The National Assembly must act decisively to restore public trust and show that no public official is above the law,” he added.
The protest and petition mark the latest in a string of public outcries targeting the regulatory chief, whose continued stay in office, the petitioners argue, threatens ongoing efforts at ensuring transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s vital oil and gas sector.
As pressure mounts on the National Assembly to act, stakeholders and observers within the industry are watching closely to see how Parliament and relevant authorities will respond to the explosive allegations.
