Nigerians have demanded a full probe into allegations of graft levelled against the immediate past Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMPRA), Engr Farouk Ahmed, and prosecution if found guilty.
They stated that the sudden resignation of Ahmed from his position should not hinder the investigation process.
Ahmed, who was appointed CEO of NMDPRA by the Buhari administration in 2021, resigned from the office on Wednesday, December 17, hours after meeting with President Bola Tinubu.
This comes three days after the President and Chief Executive of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, levelled allegations of corruption against Ahmed.
Dangote accused Ahmed of living beyond his legitimate means as a public official. The billionaire industrialist claimed that four of Ahmed’s children attended secondary schools in Switzerland, which cost at least $5 million.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive of the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, also announced his resignation from office on Wednesday.
Following the resignations, President Tinubu nominated Engr Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as the new CEO of NMDPRA and Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as the CEO of NUPRC. He requested that the Senate confirm the nominees.
Dangote, while speaking during a press conference on Sunday, December 14, raised concerns over fuel supply challenges and the state of the country’s petroleum infrastructure.
He criticised the NMDPRA under Ahmed’s leadership for taking actions that hurt domestic refining, such as continuing to issue import licences for petroleum products despite the country’s expanding refining capacity.
Africa’s richest man stated that he is not calling for Ahmed’s removal but rather for a proper investigation.
“I am not calling for his removal, but for a proper investigation,” Dangote said. “He should be required to account for his actions and demonstrate that he has not compromised his position to the detriment of Nigerians,” he added.
READ ALSO: NMDPRA, NUPRC CEOs Resign Over Dangote Allegations
He subsequently petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over the allegation, calling on the anti-graft agency to conduct a full investigation.
Commenting on the resignation of the NMDPRA boss, an X user named Ordinary Citizen said, “His resignation shouldn’t obstruct his prosecution. The evidence presented against him seems overwhelming, so if found guilty of corruption, I just hope he will be prosecuted.”
Another X user, Fodio, stated, “Resignation is not enough; Farouk needs to be investigated and prosecuted if found wanting.” He, however, expressed doubt that Ahmed would be successfully executed under Tinubu’s administration, accusing the president of lacking the political will to uphold the law.
Another X user, Christopher Iheme, said, “He got a soft landing. So won’t he be prosecuted and our monies recovered?”
READ ALSO: Fuel Price War: Nigerians Demand NNPC Slash Prices to Match Dangote’s ₦739 Rate
“This is all damage control. If he’s guilty of embezzlement, then he should be prosecuted (so he can spill the names of all his collaborators, because theft at that level cannot be accomplished singlehandedly) and then sent to jail. If he’s innocent of the allegations, you should keep his job. Either way, his resignation means nothing and solves nothing,” another X user wrote.
However, another X user said Ahmed’s resignation was a good step in the right direction, stressing that it would pave the way for his proper prosecution if found guilty.
“It doesn’t work that way. His being asked to resign was to pave the way for a proper investigation to be done, and if found guilty, he will then face the music.”
READ ALSO: NUPRC: Steps for Participating in Nigeria’s 2025 Petroleum Licensing Round
“Tinubu should not shield him because he has stepped down. He should be investigated and prosecuted if found guilty. They are the reason our economy is down and the naira valueless.”
Ayomide called for robust reforms of public institutions to enhance measures of ensuring accountability in leadership by the system without being initiated by personalities around the corridors of power.
“Accountability is not a favour; it is a duty. When leadership begins to feel heat only after whispers become headlines, then the system itself must be questioned. Resignations don’t erase damage; transparency and consequences do. Nigerians deserve institutions that work before the Villa calls, not after. History is watching, and this chapter will not be footnotes,” Ayomide stated.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist, scholar and analyst of socioeconomic issues in Nigeria and Africa. He is skilled in energy reporting, business and economy, and holds a master's degree in mass communication.
