Senate To Probe Corruption Allegations Against NMDPRA Boss

The Senate has indicated its resolve to investigate the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed.

There have been waves of protest by some public interest lawyers demanding Ahmed’s probe over allegations of corruption.

The lawyers had stormed the National Assembly, Tuesday, calling on the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to immediately suspend and prosecute Farouk Ahmed.

The lawyers cited grave allegations of corruption, abuse of office, and conflict of interest against the embattle CEO.

In the petition signed by one Samuel Ihensekhien and three others, the protesters also recommended Ahmed’s immediate suspension, sack and subsequent arrest.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Oil and Gas, Senator Kawu Samaila, who received the petition on behalf of the Senate, promised to liaise with other members of his committee and investigate the agency.

“One of our constitutional rights is to do oversight. We will look into the allegation, those who are concerned should come and defend themselves.

“We will invite you to come and defend the petition. We will call you to come and defend the allegation because we must do it in accordance with the law.

“When we have a copy of the petition we will sit down together with your leaders and look at the allegation act in accordance with the law”, Samaila said.

The petitioners also called for the freezing of Ahmed’s local and offshore assets and sweeping reforms in the appointment and oversight of regulatory agency heads in the oil and gas sector.

They described Ahmed’s actions as a clear abuse of office, a betrayal of the Nigerian people’s trust, and a severe breach of the fiduciary duty required of all public servants.

“We urge the Senate to commence an immediate and public hearing investigative hearing into these allegations, summoning Mr. Farouk Ahmed and relevant stakeholders..

“Recommend his immediate sack and suspension from office to prevent interference with ongoing investigations.Refer this matter to the EFCC, ICPC, and the Code of Conduct Bureau for coordinated criminal investigation and prosecution.

“In the event he has absconded from Nigeria immediately Call for collaboration with international security agencies like the Interpol to ensure his extradition back to Nigeria and the freezing of his local and offshore assets. Institute sweeping reforms in the appointment, conduct, and oversight of regulatory agency heads in the oil and gas sector.

“This is a defining moment for the National Assembly to rise in defense of public interest, uphold its constitutional oversight duty, and send a strong message that corruption, abuse of power, and impunity have no place in the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the petitioners added.

The petition was sponsored by a number of Civil Society and public interest groups.

Senate To Probe Corruption Allegations Against NMDPRA Boss is first published on The Whistler Newspaper