The Senate had mentioned it’s set to start probe of Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) because the protest of public curiosity legal professionals to the National Assembly enters day two.
The legal professionals stormed the National Assembly, Tuesday, calling on the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to instantly droop and prosecute Farouk Ahmed.
The legal professionals cited grave allegations of corruption, abuse of workplace, and battle of curiosity in opposition to Ahmed.
In the petition signed by Samuel Ihensekhien Jnr and three others, additionally they demanded that the National Assembly start a right away investigation, advocate Ahmed’s instant sack and suspension, and arrest.
Senator Kawu Ismaila, Chairman, Senate Committee on Oil and Gas who obtained the petition on behalf of the Senate promised to liaise with different members of the committee and examine the company.
“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”
he petitioners additionally referred to as for the
freezing of Ahmed’s native and offshore property and sweeping reforms within the appointment and oversight of regulatory company heads within the oil and gasoline sector.
The legal professionals described Ahmed’s actions as a transparent abuse of workplace, a betrayal of the Nigerian individuals’s belief, and a extreme breach of the fiduciary obligation required of all public servants.
” We urge the Senate to start a right away and public listening to investigative listening to into these allegations, summoning Mr. Farouk Ahmed and related 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 petition is backed by civil society organisations, together with the Situation Room for Oil Sector Reforms, the Concerned Young Professionals Network, and the Coalition for Public Accountability (COPA), who’ve held protests calling for Ahmed’s suspension and prosecution.
