The protest against the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Farouk Ahmed, entered its second day on Tuesday, with demonstrators maintaining a peaceful sit-out at the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) headquarters in Abuja.
The protest, led by the Concerned Young Professionals Network (CYPN), is demanding a full-scale investigation into allegations of corruption, abuse of office, regulatory compromise, and nepotism under Ahmed’s leadership of the oil and gas regulatory body.
According to a petition submitted to the ICPC and signed by Comrade Innocent Ofonyi, National President of the group, the NMDPRA boss is accused of diverting over $5 million in public funds to sponsor the foreign education of four of his children in elite institutions abroad.
The group is questioning how a public official could afford such massive educational expenses, given his known income, and is calling on the ICPC, EFCC, and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to probe the source of the alleged funds.
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“The Nigerian public is curious about Engr. Ahmed’s source of income that enabled him to afford the alleged huge sums as tuition fees for his children,” the petition stated.
“Questions abound about his financial dealings, and it is imperative that these issues are thoroughly investigated.”
The petition also raises red flags over nepotism, alleging that Ahmed facilitated the recruitment of his son into Oando PLC, a private oil firm under NMDPRA’s regulatory oversight. Protesters argue this represents a clear conflict of interest and undermines the integrity of the regulatory process.
In addition, the protesters accused Ahmed’s leadership of regulatory compromise, citing the approval of permits for the importation of diesel with high sulphur content, which is both environmentally hazardous and harmful to public health.
The group is demanding the immediate constitution of a special investigative panel made up of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to carry out an independent and transparent investigation.
Their demands include: A forensic audit of the source of the $5 million allegedly spent on tuition; Scrutiny of any additional sources of income or undeclared assets; Review of all financial transactions linked to Ahmed and his family; Comprehensive examination of fuel import permits issued during his tenure;
“We believe that these actions are necessary to restore public trust in the NMDPRA and ensure accountability in the management of public resources,” the group added.
The sit-out at the ICPC is part of a sustained pressure campaign, with the Concerned Young Professionals Network vowing to continue peaceful protests until the government takes concrete steps toward investigating the allegations.
