NIGERIA: Farouk Ahmed Denies Allegations, Welcomes Probe Into Dangote Petition

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Farouk Ahmed, has denied allegations of financial impropriety contained in a petition recently submitted to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) by Dangote, describing the claims as false and misleading.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ahmed said a purported response earlier attributed to him did not originate from his office and reiterated his decision to refrain from public exchanges while the matter is subjected to formal investigation.

He said: “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.”

Ahmed noted that while he was aware of what he described as “wild and spurious allegations” against him and his family, he opted not to engage in public controversy, given his role as the head of a sensitive regulatory institution.

Responding directly to claims relating to the financing of his children’s education abroad, Ahmed dismissed suggestions that the expenses were inconsistent with his legitimate income.

He explained that three of his four children benefited from merit-based scholarships covering between 40 and 65 per cent of tuition costs, while additional funding came from family education trust arrangements established by his late father.

According to him, his personal contributions were drawn from savings accumulated over more than three decades of public service in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.

“My annual compensation as NMDPRA Chief Executive, approximately ₦48 million including allowances, is publicly available in audited records,” he stated.

Ahmed added that he has consistently filed asset declarations with the Code of Conduct Bureau since joining public service in 1991 and has authorised relevant institutions to release financial records to investigators.

The NMDPRA chief traced his career progression from a junior engineer in the former Department of Petroleum Resources to his current position, stressing that his appointments were based on merit rather than political patronage.

He said his tenure has focused on implementing the Petroleum Industry Act with transparency, enforcing quality standards, and ensuring supply security in the downstream sector.

Ahmed also defended recent fuel import licensing decisions, stating that granting licences when domestic supply is insufficient is a statutory responsibility of the regulator, not an act of economic sabotage.

He noted: “A single-source supply model, regardless of ownership, creates dangerous vulnerabilities that no responsible regulator can ignore.”

The response follows a petition filed by businessman Alhaji Aliko Dangote through his lawyer, reportedly authored by Mr Stan Goethe, alleging misconduct by the NMDPRA chief.

The ICPC has since confirmed receipt of the petition, stating that it would be investigated in line with its mandate.

Ahmed welcomed the development, saying it presents an opportunity for an objective review of the allegations.

“I believe that would provide an opportunity to dispassionately distil the issues and to clear my name,” he said.

The NMDPRA CEO further invited the Code of Conduct Bureau, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and the National Assembly to examine his financial records and regulatory actions.

He pledged full cooperation with any investigation conducted professionally and without predetermined conclusions.

“I will not be intimidated into abandoning my statutory duties or granting preferential treatment to any entity,” Ahmed stated.