…., prices related companies to open instant investigation.
The Concerned Citizens Network of Nigeria (CCNN) has slammed Engineer Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), for his full-page newspaper ads printed on July 11, 2025, as a “disgraceful charade” and “diversionary” designed to dodge accountability.
The group stated the advertisements, showing on web page 12 of Thisday, web page 17 of The Guardian, web page 15 of Vanguard, web page 3 of BusinessDay, and web page 19 of Daily Trust, had been unsigned and devoid of substance, failing to deal with explosive allegations that Ahmed spent over $5.5 million (roughly N8.25 billion) on his youngsters’s secondary training overseas.
In a fiery press convention on Monday in Abuja, the CCNN, led by Dr. Emmanuel Agibi, demanded a right away investigation, accusing Ahmed of insulting Nigerians’ intelligence along with his evasive techniques.
The CCNN highlighted that Ahmed’s youngsters—Faisal Farouk attended the Montreux faculty, Farouk Jr attended the Aiglon faculty, Ashraf Farouk attended the Institut Le Rosey whereas Farhana Farouk attended the La Garenne International School for six years every.
With annual tuition and maintenance exceeding $200,000 per faculty, the entire price for the 4 youngsters is estimated at $5 million, or roughly $1.2 million per little one over six years.
“The cost per child included annual tuition fees of approximately $130,000–$150,000 and an additional $50,000 for upkeep, flights, and other expenses. For each child, this amounts to roughly $180,000–$200,000 annually, or $1,080,000–$1,200,000 over six years,” the assertion stated.
“For four children, the total expenditure ranges from $4,320,000–$4,800,000. Even now, questions remain unanswered about the tertiary education of Ahmed’s children. Having completed their secondary education, Faisal, Farouk Jr., Ashraf, and Farhana are enrolled in prestigious universities abroad, where annual costs often exceed $70,000–$100,000 per student.
“Further compounding public outrage, Engr. Farouk Ahmed’s son recently graduated from Harvard University, where tuition and associated costs exceeded $152,000, with additional expenses in the range of $100,000. This extravagant expenditure, far beyond the gross earnings of a civil servant of his calibre, places an immense burden on Nigeria’s poor taxpayers, many of whom struggle to afford three meals a day or school uniforms for their children, particularly in the northern regions.
“Notably, Ahmed has never held employment outside his role with the Federal Government since leaving school, raising further questions about the source of his wealth. The opulence displayed in funding such elite education underscores a stark disconnect between Ahmed’s lifestyle and the economic realities faced by ordinary Nigerians.”
The group urged the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to analyze how a civil servant’s wage might fund such lavish expenditure.
“In a nation where over 10 million children, particularly in the north, lack access to basic education, this lavish spending by a public servant is not merely a matter of personal choice—it is a moral outrage,” the assertion added.
“While numerous Nigerian households battle to afford major education, Ahmed’s youngsters attended secondary establishments costing extra per time period than the annual budgets of some federal schools. This stark inequality represents an injustice that can not be ignored.
“The absence of transparency relating to how these ongoing bills are funded additional fuels public suspicion. If Ahmed’s wealth can help such elite secondary and tertiary training, the general public deserves to know the reliable sources of those funds, particularly given his function as a public servant accountable to Nigerian taxpayers.
“The CCNN’s allegations are grounded in rigorous proof, stemming from a petition to the Attorney-General of the Federation after weeks of verification, fact-finding, and public file critiques.We query how a public official, whose wage is understood and whose belongings have to be constitutionally declared, might finance such a unprecedented stage of abroad training with out a seen business empire or disclosed inheritance.
“The petition raises severe issues about potential abuse of workplace, asset concealment, or diversion of public funds below Ahmed’s management at NMDPRA. Public response has been resolute, with peaceable protests by attorneys, college students, and civic {groups} concentrating on the Attorney-General’s workplace, ICPC, EFCC, National Assembly, and NMDPRA headquarters. These demonstrations, supported by formal letters and placards, demanded a clear investigation.
“The NMDPRA’s try to dismiss these voices as ‘faceless’ is a cynical effort to undermine lawful civic engagement, additional eroding public belief. The NMDPRA’s assertion conspicuously averted addressing key points: it didn’t deny the youngsters’s attendance on the listed secondary faculties, nor did it present any breakdown of how tuition was funded.
“It provided no particulars on asset declarations, loans, enterprise revenue, household inheritance, or blind trusts, relying as an alternative on obscure appeals to Ahmed’s ‘reputation’ and ‘integrity.’ In a democracy, such claims are inadequate when a public servant’s life-style seems misaligned with their declared revenue. The burden of proof rests with Ahmed, not the general public.
“The CCB, ICPC, and EFCC have constitutional mandates to analyze instances of unexplained wealth, making certain that public officers are held accountable. This case assessments the credibility of President Bola Tinubu’s anti-corruption and transparency agenda. The CCNN just isn’t calling for Ahmed’s instant removing however for an open, impartial investigation. If he’s harmless, a clear course of will vindicate him.
