The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Ahmed Farouk, has described the corruption allegations levelled against him by the Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, as “wild and spurious”.
Ahmed, in a disclaimer issued and signed by him, noted that he would rather wait to defend himself in the presence of a formal investigative body, rather than engage in public “brickbat” with the entrepreneur.
“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.
“While I am aware of the wild and spurious allegations made against me and my family and the frenzy it has generated, as a regulator of a sensitive industry, I have opted not to engage in public brickbat.
“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”, Ahmed’s statement read.
On Sunday, Aliko Dangote accused Ahmed of economic sabotage, which he said was undermining domestic refining in Nigeria.
The dispute between Dangote and Ahmed dates back to July 2024, when the NMDPRA CEO said local refineries, including the Dangote refinery, produced inferior products compared to those imported into the country.
Dangote denied the allegations by testing diesel from his refinery during an oversight visit by federal lawmakers to the refinery.
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