iDeemlawfulThe Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, has denied issuing any statement in reaction to allegations levelled against him by the President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.
Ahmed, in a brief statement made available to our correspondent on Wednesday, said he neither authored nor authorised the statement circulating on social media concerning the matter.
During a press briefing at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lekki, Lagos, on Sunday, Dangote called for a comprehensive investigation into the source of funds allegedly used by Ahmed, urging him to appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal to publicly account for the claims.
“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 $5m. I mean, you cannot imagine somebody paying $5m for educating four children,” Dangote said.
Dangote also submitted a petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, calling for a probe into Ahmed’s financial dealings, while alleging that the regulator’s conduct amounted to economic sabotage capable of eroding public trust and investor confidence, particularly in relation to fuel import licences.
On Tuesday, a statement allegedly signed by Ahmed surfaced online, but the NMDPRA management informed our correspondent that the document was not genuine.
Speaking on the issue, Ahmed said the viral statement did not originate from him.
He explained that despite being aware of the allegations directed at him and his family, he had deliberately refrained from engaging in public exchanges.
“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.
“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,” he said.
The NMDPRA boss said he was satisfied that Dangote had taken the allegations to the ICPC, noting that the process would afford him the opportunity to clear his name.
“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.
