Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), has denied authorising a statement circulating under his name in response to recent allegations by Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Industries Limited.
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In a disclaimer sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday, Ahmed described the claims against him and his family as “wild and spurious” and said he will not engage in a public dispute. He expressed relief that Dangote has approached a formal investigative body, allowing for a calm review of the issues.
Dangote, speaking at a press briefing on Sunday at Dangote Petroleum Refinery, accused Ahmed of “economic sabotage” that undermines Nigeria’s domestic refining sector, claiming the NMDPRA continues to issue import licences in collusion with international traders. He also raised concerns over Ahmed’s personal spending, noting that four of his children attend schools in Switzerland at significant cost, suggesting possible conflicts of interest.
Dangote later expanded his accusations to include corruption and misappropriation of public funds, claiming Ahmed spent around $7 million on his children’s education, including $210 000 for a Harvard MBA. On Tuesday, Dangote, through his lawyer Ogwu Onoja (SAN), filed a petition with the ICPC, requesting Ahmed’s arrest, investigation, and prosecution. The petition listed the children, schools, and amounts involved, prompting reactions from civil society groups calling the spending embezzlement of public resources.
Dangote cited Section 19 of the ICPC Act, urging the commission to act decisively, while offering to provide evidence to support his claims.
