By Muhammad Mamman
The head of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum regulator, Engr Farouk Ahmed, has denied issuing a statement circulating online that purportedly responds to corruption allegations levelled against him, distancing himself from what he described as a false attribution.
In a clarification released on Wednesday, Ahmed, the chief executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), said the statement being widely shared did not originate from him or his office.
“My attention has been drawn to a purported response I was said to have made on the recent allegations against my person. I hereby state categorically that the so-called statement did not emanate from me,” he said.
The disclaimer comes amid mounting controversy following allegations by Nigerian billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote, who accused Ahmed of corruption, including claims that millions of dollars of illicit funds were used to finance his children’s education abroad.
Ahmed did not directly address the substance of the accusations but said he had deliberately avoided public exchanges over the matter, citing the sensitivity of his position as a regulator in Nigeria’s critical energy sector.
“While I am aware of the wild and spurious allegations made against me and my family and the frenzy it has generated, as a regulator of a sensitive industry, I have opted not to engage in public brickbat,” he said.
He added that he was confident the matter would be resolved through formal channels, noting that the allegations had now been submitted to an investigative body.
“Thankfully, the person behind the allegations has taken it to a formal investigative institution. I believe that would provide an opportunity to dispassionately distill the issues and to clear my name,” Ahmed said.
The statement was signed by Ahmed in his capacity as Authority Chief Executive of the NMDPRA.
Dangote formally petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on December 16, calling for a probe into the allegations against the regulator’s chief. The ICPC has confirmed receipt of the petition and said it will conduct a thorough investigation.
The dispute has intensified scrutiny of Nigeria’s petroleum regulatory framework, with industry observers watching closely as investigators examine claims involving one of the country’s most powerful business figures and a key government regulator.
