iDeemlawfulFarouk Ahmed, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), has tendered his resignation following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu.
Tinubu on Wednesday summoned Ahmed to the Presidential Villa in Abuja amid allegations of economic sabotage and corruption levelled against him.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, accused Ahmed of involvement in multimillion-dollar corruption.
At a press conference held at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery on Sunday, Dangote alleged that the leadership of the NMDPRA collaborated with international traders and oil importers to undermine local refining by continuously issuing licences for the importation of petroleum products.
Dangote further claimed that Ahmed was living beyond his verifiable income, stating that four of his children were enrolled in secondary schools in Switzerland at costs amounting to several million dollars.
He said such spending raised critical concerns about possible conflicts of interest and the credibility of regulatory oversight within the downstream petroleum sector.
On Monday, Dangote amplified the allegations, accusing Mr Ahmed of corruption and diversion of public funds, while releasing estimated figures linked to his children’s foreign education.
According to him, Ahmed expended roughly $5 million on secondary education and upkeep over six years, with an additional $2 million spent on tertiary education, including $210,000 for Faisal Farouk’s 2025 Harvard MBA.
On Tuesday, Dangote, through his counsel, Ogwu Onoja, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), submitted a petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), requesting Mr Farouk’s arrest, investigation, and prosecution for allegedly living beyond his lawful earnings as a public officer.
The petition, addressed to ICPC Chairman Musa Aliyu, alleged that Mr Ahmed “spent without evidence of lawful means of income amounting to over $7 million for the education of his four children” in Switzerland, detailing the children’s names, schools, and specific costs for verification.
Dangote also accused Ahmed of abusing his office to embezzle public funds, an allegation that has triggered protests by civil society organisations.
He referenced Section 19 of the ICPC Act, which authorises the commission to investigate and prosecute corrupt practices, noting that a conviction could attract a five-year prison sentence without the option of a fine.
He called on the ICPC to take firm action, adding that he remained ready to provide documentary evidence to substantiate his allegations.
