Ahmed Farouk has resigned as the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), following corruption allegations levelled against him by the Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote.
Farouk’s resignation comes after he publicly dismissed the allegations as “wild and spurious,” insisting he would rather clear his name before a formal investigative body than engage in a public exchange with the businessman.
In a disclaimer personally signed by him before his resignation, Farouk denied authorship of a statement attributed to him on the allegations and said he deliberately refrained from public commentary due to the sensitive nature of his position.
“My attention has been drawn to a purported response I was said to have made on the recent allegations against my person. I hereby state categorically that the so-called statement did not emanate from me,” he said.
While acknowledging awareness of the allegations against him and his family, Farouk said Dangote’s decision to petition a statutory investigative agency would provide an opportunity to objectively examine the issues and clear his name.
“Thankfully, the person behind the allegations has taken it to a formal investigative institution. I believe that would provide an opportunity to dispassionately distill the issues and to clear my name,” he stated.
On Sunday, Dangote, Africa’s richest man, accused Farouk of economic sabotage, alleging that actions by the NMDPRA under his leadership were undermining domestic refining efforts in Nigeria. The petition has since been submitted to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which has acknowledged receipt and promised to investigate.
The disagreement between both men dates back to July 2024, when Farouk reportedly said local refineries, including the Dangote Refinery, produced inferior petroleum products compared to imported fuel, a claim Dangote strongly disputed.
Farouk’s resignation marks a major development in the escalating dispute, as investigations into the allegations are expected to continue.
