Former President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Comrade Peter Esele, has called on the Federal Government and anti-corruption agencies to launch a comprehensive investigation into allegations of corruption levelled against the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Farouk Ahmed.
Comrade Esele made the call while reacting to accusations by Africa’s richest man and President of Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who recently alleged that the NMDPRA boss was engaged in acts of economic sabotage detrimental to Nigeria’s domestic refining sector.
Speaking on Tuesday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today, Esele said the seriousness of the allegations demanded immediate action by security and anti-graft agencies.
Esele also argued that transparency and accountability must guide the government’s response, stressing that public confidence in regulatory institutions depends on how such matters are handled.
According to Esele, Ahmed should consider stepping aside to allow for an unhindered investigation into the claims.
He further said allegations that a public official could be funding multi-million-dollar foreign education for his children, if proven, would raise serious ethical and legal concerns that must not be ignored.
He stated that agencies such as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have a responsibility to investigate the matter thoroughly and make their findings public.
Esele added that if the allegations were substantiated, appropriate sanctions, including resignation and prosecution, should follow.
He however, maintained that due process must be respected.
He said that if investigations clear the NMDPRA boss of wrongdoing, Dangote should be required to issue a public apology to restore the official’s reputation.
The dispute between Dangote and Ahmed dates back to July 2024, when the NMDPRA chief reportedly questioned the quality of products refined locally, including those produced by the Dangote Refinery, and suggested that imported petroleum products were superior.
Dangote refuted the claim, publicly demonstrating the quality of diesel produced at his refinery during a visit by members of the National Assembly.
The disagreement resurfaced more than a year later when Dangote submitted a formal petition to the ICPC, accusing Ahmed of corruption and living beyond his legitimate income.
In the petition, Dangote alleged that the NMDPRA boss spends several million dollars on the education of his four children in Switzerland, an expenditure he said raises questions about possible conflicts of interest and regulatory integrity.
Dangote urged the anti-graft agency to investigate the matter, arguing that alleged misconduct by a key regulator could undermine confidence in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector and discourage local investment.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the NMDPRA nor its chief executive has issued an official response to the allegations, even as public debate and calls for accountability continue to grow.
