Farouk Ahmed, head of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, has rejected claims that he issued a statement responding to recent allegations made against him by Aliko Dangote. He said the statement circulating online did not come from him and was not approved by his office.
The denial came days after Dangote, speaking at a press briefing at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lekki, Lagos, questioned the source of funds allegedly used by Ahmed to pay for the foreign education of his children. Dangote called on the regulator to appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal and also submitted a petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, asking for a probe into Ahmed’s financial dealings. He further accused the regulator of actions that could weaken confidence in the oil sector, especially regarding fuel import licences.
A statement that appeared online on Tuesday and was attributed to Ahmed sparked public attention, but officials of the NMDPRA later clarified that the document was fake. Ahmed explained that he deliberately avoided public exchanges over the allegations because of his position as a regulator in a sensitive sector.
He said he was aware of the claims involving him and his family but preferred not to engage through social media or informal channels. According to him, the matter being taken to a formal investigative body was the proper step.
Ahmed welcomed the ICPC’s involvement, noting that an independent investigation would allow the issues to be examined fairly and give him the opportunity to clear his name through due process.