Groups for Oil Sector Reforms on Monday staged coordinated protests at the offices of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) in Abuja.
They demanded the immediate resignation of Engr. Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The demonstrators, carrying placards and chanting slogans, accused the NMDPRA boss of financial misconduct, nepotism, and abuse of office.
They submitted formal petitions at all three offices, urging urgent investigations into alleged irregularities in regulatory practices under Ahmed’s leadership.
Spokesperson for the group, Dan Okwa, said the protest was necessitated by what he described as credible allegations of multi-million-dollar misappropriation, adding that allowing Ahmed to remain in office poses a threat to the integrity of any possible investigation.
“There is documentary evidence pointing to unethical transactions and conflicts of interest involving the NMDPRA boss. His continued stay in office undermines transparency in the oil and gas regulatory space,” Okwa said during the protest at the ICPC headquarters.
According to the group, Ahmed is accused of authorizing questionable financial transactions worth over $5 million, facilitating the employment of his son in a regulated oil firm, and allegedly using public resources to fund private expenses, including foreign education for his children.
The protesters are calling for Ahmed’s immediate suspension, a joint investigation by the AGF, ICPC, EFCC, and CCB, as well as a comprehensive audit of his financial records, licensing decisions, and asset declarations.
As of press time, no official response had been issued by the NMDPRA, the Office of the Attorney-General, or the anti-corruption agencies visited.
