Farouk Ahmed
The resignation of Engr. Farouk Ahmed as Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has opened a critical chapter—but it has not closed the book.
Political activist and international affairs leader, Comrade Timi Frank, says Ahmed’s decision to step aside must be followed by swift action from Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies, warning that resignation without accountability amounts to escape, not reform.
“Walking away from office is not justice,” Frank said in Abuja. “It only removes the shield of power. What must follow is investigation, arrest where necessary, and prosecution.”
The allegations—publicly raised by Africa’s richest industrialist, Alhaji Aliko Dangote—have sent shockwaves through the petroleum sector. Yet, more than 72 hours later, the EFCC and ICPC have failed to announce concrete investigative steps, a silence Frank describes as dangerous and unacceptable.
“When allegations of this scale surface and the system freezes, it tells investors and citizens that corruption may be protected, not punished,” he said.
At the heart of the controversy is an alleged $7 million (about ₦10 billion) expenditure on the overseas education of four children—an amount that dwarfs the annual earnings of a senior public official and stands in stark contrast to the hardship facing millions of Nigerians.
“In a country where universities shut down over funding gaps, and parents struggle to pay ₦100,000 in school fees, these allegations strike at the soul of public service,” Frank noted.
He warned that failure to resolve the matter transparently could further damage Nigeria’s global reputation and weaken confidence in its regulatory institutions.
“No serious investor wants to operate where regulators are accused of corruption and the state looks the other way,” he said.
Frank urged the EFCC and ICPC to immediately summon, investigate, and, if warranted, prosecute Ahmed, stressing that the former regulator’s stated willingness to cooperate removes any justification for delay.
“This moment will test Nigeria’s anti-corruption credentials,” he added. “If this case fades quietly, public trust will suffer irreparable damage.”
He also challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that the institutions responsible for fighting corruption act decisively.
“This is not about personalities; it is about the credibility of the Nigerian state,” Frank said. “Nigerians are watching, and silence is no longer an option.”