FAROUK Ahmed has resigned as the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) following days of controversy triggered by corruption allegations levelled against him by billionaire Aliko Dangote.

President Bola Tinubu, in a statement on Wednesday, December 17, confirmed Ahmed’s resignation and announced that he had forwarded the name of Saidu Aliyu Mohammed to the Senate for confirmation as the new head of the NMDPRA.

Ahmed was appointed in September 2021 by former President Muhammadu Buhari to lead the NMDPRA, one of the two regulators created under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

His exit came shortly after Dangote petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), accusing him of gross abuse of office, violation of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, corruption, and financial impropriety.

Dangote, through his lawyers, alleged that Ahmed spent over $7 million in public funds on the education of his four children in Switzerland, an expenditure he claimed was inconsistent with the earnings of a career public servant.

The petition also accused the former regulator of using his position to divert public funds for personal gain.

The ICPC had confirmed receipt of the petition and said it would investigate the allegations.

In a brief reaction earlier, Ahmed dismissed issuing any public response to the claims and described the allegations against him and his family as “wild and spurious.”

He said he chose not to engage in public exchanges while the matter was before an investigative body.

While the Presidency did not link Ahmed’s resignation directly to the corruption allegations, the timing of his departure has intensified public reactions on the matter.

To replace him, Tinubu nominated Mohammed, a former Group Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, Gas and Power Directorate of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

Mohammed, according to the Presidency, has held several senior positions in the oil and gas sector, including Managing Director of the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and the Nigerian Gas Company.

The President also announced the resignation of Gbenga Komolafe as Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and nominated Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as his replacement.

Mustapha USMAN

Mustapha Usman is an investigative journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: musman@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M