According to Dangote, the alleged expenditure is inconsistent with the earnings of a career public servant and, if left unaddressed, could undermine public trust and investor confidence in the sector.
The Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) has asked Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies to launch an independent investigation into allegations of unexplained wealth involving the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr. Farouk Ahmed.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday by its Executive Director, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, FENRAD expressed concern over claims that about five million United States dollars ($5 million) was allegedly paid as foreign secondary school fees for Mr. Ahmed’s children in Switzerland.
The allegation was publicly raised by the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Dangote Group, Mr. Aliko Dangote.
SaharaReporters had reported that Dangote, on Sunday, December 14, 2025, alleged that the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, spent about $5 million on the secondary school education of his four children in Switzerland, calling for a full investigation and a public explanation.
Dangote made the allegation during a press briefing at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lekki, Lagos, where he spoke extensively on what he described as regulatory failures and alleged corruption in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.
According to Dangote, the alleged expenditure is inconsistent with the earnings of a career public servant and, if left unaddressed, could undermine public trust and investor confidence in the sector.
“I’ve actually had people making complaints about a regulator who has put his children in secondary school abroad,” Dangote said.
“That secondary school education, which is six years for four children, allegedly cost about $5 million. You cannot imagine somebody paying $5 million just to educate four children in secondary school.”
SaharaReporters also reported that the House of Representatives ordered an immediate halt to hostilities between both parties.
The House Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream and Midstream) disclosed its decision after an emergency meeting convened to address what it described as “growing tension” within the industry.
The committees are chaired by Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere and Hon. Henry Okogie.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, Ugochinyere said the committee resolved to summon the parties involved to present their grievances and allegations for immediate legislative resolution.
He added that the committee also directed that all public exchanges and media comments should stop pending the outcome of its investigation, which he said would be concluded swiftly.
In its statement, FENRAD stressed that the allegation remains unproven and that Ahmed is presumed innocent until proven otherwise.
However, the group said the magnitude of the alleged expenditure, the sensitivity of the office involved, and the level of public interest necessitate urgent action by relevant authorities.
According to FENRAD, the allegation raises serious questions about compliance with the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, mandatory asset declaration requirements, and income transparency within Nigeria’s public service.
The group also warned that unresolved allegations against the head of a key petroleum regulatory agency could undermine public confidence in the integrity of Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum sector.
“Given the strategic importance of the NMDPRA and the prominence of the individual who raised the allegation, there is a compelling need for independent verification to safeguard public interest and institutional credibility,” the statement said.
FENRAD called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), and the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to immediately commence a “thorough, impartial, and transparent” investigation.
The group said the probe should include verification of the alleged $5 million school fee payments, determination of the source of the funds, and examination of Ahmed’s asset declarations and financial records.
It added that any wrongdoing established should be met with immediate prosecution in line with Nigerian law.
In addition, FENRAD urged Ahmed to voluntarily submit himself to public scrutiny, cooperate fully with investigators, and provide verifiable explanations in the interest of transparency and national integrity.
Reiterating its stance, the group stressed that no individual is above the law, regardless of position or influence, and that accountability is essential to sustaining Nigeria’s democracy and public trust.