Human rights group, the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL), has called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the “serious allegations” against the chief executive officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed.

This came after the chairman of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Aliko Dangote, gave a shocking revelation, accusing Mr Ahmed of corruption.  

The Nigerian billionaire businessman also called for the NMDPRA boss’ probe by anti-graft agencies, allegeding that Mr Ahmed paid $5 million to Swiss secondary schools for his children.

Mr Dangote alleged that Mr Ahmed paid the said amount for four of his children, covering a period of six years.

He specifically alleged that the NMDPRA’s CEO was living above his means and challenged the federal government to investigate his claim.

But in a petition obtained by Peoples Gazette on Tuesday and released by the CACOL chairman, Debo Adeniran, the group cited widely reported public statements credited to Mr Dangote, alleging that Mr Ahmed lives far beyond his legitimate means. 

CACOL stated that if the allegation is proven, it would raise grave concerns about possible illicit enrichment, abuse of office, and violations of Nigeria’s anti-corruption laws by Mr Ahmed. 

The group also drew attention to claims by Mr Dangote that the NMDPRA boss had engaged in actions amounting to economic sabotage, particularly through regulatory decisions allegedly designed to undermine domestic refining in Nigeria. 

It said such actions, if substantiated, could frustrate local refining efforts, discourage investment in the sector, and perpetuate Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products.

According to CACOL, allegations of this magnitude against a senior public official in a critical sector of the economy, if left unaddressed, could seriously erode public confidence in government institutions.

“No individual should be above the law,” the group said, stressing that allegations bordering on corruption, abuse of office and economic sabotage must be subjected to an independent, professional and comprehensive investigation.

“CACOL, therefore, urged the ICPC to immediately commence a thorough probe into the claims of living beyond legitimate means against Ahmed, examine all allegations relating to economic sabotage and the undermining of domestic refining, and prosecute any individual found culpable in line with the law,” the petition read. 

The group, however, reaffirmed its commitment to the fight against corruption and the promotion of transparency, accountability, and good governance. 

Already, the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream and Midstream) has summoned Mr Dangote and the leadership of the NMDPRA over rising tension in the downstream petroleum sector.