Dare Babalola
Farouk Ahmed, CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), has declined to engage in a public dispute following “spurious” allegations levelled against him by Aliko Dangote, Chairman of the Dangote Group.
On Monday, Dangote alleged that Ahmed “paid $5 million” to a Swiss secondary school for his children’s education, describing the act as “economic sabotage and corruption”.
In a newspaper advert, Dangote publicly detailed the allegations, naming Farouk Ahmed’s four children as Faisal Farouk, Farouk Jr., Ashraf Farouk, and Farhana Farouk.
On Tuesday, the entrepreneur submitted a petition against the NMDPRA CEO to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), over “corruption and financial impropriety”.
In a statement on Wednesday, Ahmed dismissed an earlier statement circulating on social media, which was purported to be his response to the allegations.
The NMDPRA CEO said he will rather clear his name during the ICPC investigation.
He noted that Dangote’s decision to refer the matter to a formal investigative body would allow the issues to be examined objectively and without emotion.
“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,” the statement reads.
“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.
“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.”
On Tuesday, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) said allegations made by Dangote against the NMDPRA CEO can deter potential foreign investors.
