Tons of of legal professionals and members of civil society group, in the present day, stormed the Legal professional Common’s Workplace with a petition demanding speedy motion in opposition to Engr. Farouk Ahmed, the CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The group alleges Ahmed abused his workplace, misappropriating over $5 million in public funds to fund his youngsters in elite faculties overseas.
Within the petition signed by Barrister Aquila Kendo, the Involved Nigerian Youths Discussion board claims Ahmed’s youngsters attended prestigious faculties in Switzerland and India, with tuition charges working into lots of of hundreds of {dollars}.
It additionally alleges battle of curiosity, citing Ahmed’s son’s employment with Oando PLC, an organization regulated by NMDPRA, and accuses Ahmed of casting doubt on the standard of petroleum merchandise refined by the Dangote Refinery.
“The actions attributed to Engr. Farouk Ahmed, if confirmed, violate quite a few federal statutes and moral requirements,” Kendo acknowledged.
“First is Part 172 of the 1999 Structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which binds public officers to behave within the public curiosity and to eschew corruption. The diversion of public funds or influence-peddling to sponsor non-public training overseas straight contradicts this provision.
“Beneath Paragraphs 1, 6, and 11 of the Fifth Schedule to the Structure (Code of Conduct for Public Officers), a public official is required to declare all property and liabilities and is barred from participating in actions that create battle between their non-public curiosity and public duties.
“The Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act (CAP C15 LFN 2004) reinforces these guidelines and descriptions penalties, together with dismissal from workplace and seizure of property not lawfully acquired.
“Moreover, Part 15 of the Public Procurement Act 2007 forbids public officers from authorising public spending not backed by lawful appropriation. No identified appropriation or funds line justifies the alleged expenditure on international training on this case.
“Moreover, Sections 19 and 26 of the Impartial Corrupt Practices and Different Associated Offences Act (ICPC Act) criminalise using public workplace for unjust enrichment and the receipt of any benefit that might compromise an officer’s impartiality. We imagine the advantages allegedly prolonged to Oando and the regulatory latitude granted to gasoline importers fall inside these violations.
“Beneath Part 1 of the Cash Laundering (Prohibition) Act, any particular person who disguises the origin of funds by means of layered transactions or transfers through proxy accounts is liable to prosecution.
“Lastly, Engr. Ahmed’s alleged issuance of licenses to import high-sulphur diesel additionally violates provisions of the Petroleum Business Act (PIA) that empower NMDPRA to safeguard the well being and security of Nigerian shoppers by means of environmental and technical product compliance.”
The group is looking for Ahmed’s speedy suspension, coordinated investigations by EFCC, ICPC, and Code of Conduct Bureau, and swift prosecution if allegations are substantiated.
Additionally they demand systemic reforms inside NMDPRA to stop future occurrences, aiming to guard Nigeria’s petroleum sector from corruption and guarantee accountability.
