Dangote Allegations: NMDPRA Chief rejects viral statement, welcomes ICPC investigation
The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, has denied authoring or approving a statement circulating on social media in response to allegations made against him by President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.
In a brief statement released on Wednesday, Ahmed clarified that the viral response attributed to him did not originate from his office. He stressed that he neither issued nor authorised any public statement concerning the allegations.
Speaking earlier at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lekki, Lagos, Dangote had called for a comprehensive investigation into Ahmed’s financial dealings. He urged the NMDPRA boss to appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal to publicly explain the source of funds used to educate his children abroad.
Dangote alleged that the cost of educating four of Ahmed’s children for secondary school amounted to about $5 million, questioning how a public official could afford such expenses. He subsequently petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), accusing the regulator of actions that could undermine investor confidence and amount to economic sabotage, particularly through the approval of fuel import licences.
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On Tuesday, a statement purportedly signed by Ahmed surfaced online, responding to the allegations. However, NMDPRA officials dismissed it as fake.
Reacting to the situation, Ahmed said he deliberately chose not to engage in public exchanges despite being aware of what he described as unfounded allegations against him and his family.
“My attention has been drawn to a purported response attributed to me regarding the recent allegations. I wish to state clearly that the statement did not emanate from me,” he said.
Ahmed expressed relief that the matter had been formally referred to the ICPC, noting that an independent investigation would provide an opportunity to objectively examine the issues and clear his name.
“I believe this process will allow the facts to be properly established and enable me to address the allegations in an appropriate forum,” he added.
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