Senator Adams Oshiomhole, on Thursday called for the “hanging” of Farouk Ahmed, the former Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Mr Oshiomhole made the remarks during plenary at the screening of Saidu Aliyu Mohammed, President Bola Tinubu’s nominee as the new head of the NMDPRA.
“Your predecessor, Mr Ahmed Farouk, who was removed, and I celebrated it last night. He needed to be hanged,” Oshiomhole said. “In my previous statement, I said if we don’t hang him, he will hang Nigeria.”
The former Edo State governor accused Mr Ahmed of pursuing policies he said undermined local job creation and promoted importation over domestic production.
“Anyone who is opposed to jobs being created in Nigeria, who prefers importation, importing poverty here and exporting out prosperity abroad, does not deserve to live,” he added. “I want to see how his case will be pursued to a conclusion.”
Turning to the nominee, Oshiomhole warned Mr Mohammed against repeating what he described as the “very shameful performance policy choices” of his predecessor.
“Looking at your CV, you are qualified. The issue for me is not about qualification. It’s about policy choices,” he said, asking how the incoming NMDPRA boss intends to support local industries and job creation.
Oshiomhole’s outburst followed Mr Ahmed’s resignation after Aliko Dangote, President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, accused him of corruption.
In a petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr Dangote called for Mr Ahmed’s arrest, investigation, and prosecution over alleged corruption and financial impropriety.
Following public backlash after the resignation, particularly over concerns about an apparent lack of prosecution, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said President Bola Tinubu would not interfere with the independence of the ICPC to investigate and pursue the matter.
Mr Ahmed, however, said in a statement posted on the NMDPRA’s X (formerly Twitter) page that he welcomed the scrutiny.
Meanwhile, the ICPC confirmed on Tuesday that it has received Mr Dangote’s petition and is investigating the allegations against the former NMDPRA chief.
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