CSOs withdraw petition against NMDPRA boss, tender apology

A coalition of civil society organisations has formally withdrawn its weeks-long petition against the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Farouk Ahmed, citing fresh findings that invalidate earlier allegations of financial misconduct.

In a statement jointly signed by Olawale Mudasiru of Lawyers in Defence of Good Governance, Abdullahi Farouk of Northern Interest Project, Engr. Emeka Obioara of Young Professionals for Peace and Development, Comrade Adedayo Oluwasegun of the Coalition of Civil Society Against Corruption, Agozie Chibudom of South East Frontiers, Perepate Godspower of the Niger Delta Advocacy for Good Governance, and Mogbojuri A. Alao of the Yoruba Action Group for Sustainable Development, read at a press conference in Abuja, the Coalition, which had earlier accused Ahmed of mismanaging public funds to sponsor four of his children in elite foreign institutions, retracted their claims and issued a public apology.

“We the undersigned groups of civil society that have been raising agitation for the removal of the NMDPRA boss as a result of mismanagement of public funds and alleged use of same to sponsor four of his children in expensive Ivy League schools abroad, wish to officially withdraw those petitions,” the statement declared.

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Earlier allegations had pegged the cost of the children’s foreign education at a staggering $5 million, alleging the funds were sourced from illegal proceeds while he served as the agency’s CEO. The campaign had triggered weeks of public outcry and called for Ahmed’s immediate removal and prosecution.

However, at the press conference, representatives of the coalition admitted that further investigations revealed the claims were not only untrue but grossly misleading.

“Our further findings and investigations later brought to our notice showed that our initial allegations were unfounded, as further evidence made available to us shows that the said children had already graduated from their respective institutions even before he was appointed CEO of the agency,” the coalition clarified.

According to them, “the said children were on scholarship during their stay as students of the institution. This means that our initial claim was false and misleading, as other findings have revealed in the case of further enquiries to press home our demand.”

The group also expressed regret over the reputational damage the allegations might have caused the NMDPRA boss and his family.

“We are not mindful of the pains this would have caused the entire family while the petition was submitted and followed. We were misinformed, and we tender our apology on the misleading news we have spread to the public against the CEO,” they said.

These civil society leaders stated they had reviewed audit reports, which, according to them, “did not show the mentioned infractions,” thereby reinforcing the conclusion that public funds were not diverted to fund the education of Ahmed’s children.

In what they described as a gesture of responsibility and accountability to the public, the group concluded the press conference by tendering “an unreserved apology” to Engr. Farouk Ahmed issued a vote of confidence in his leadership.

“We also noticed unhindered implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA 2021), which ensures equitable distribution of petroleum products nationwide compared to what we used to have,” the coalition noted, lauding the positive impact of the NMDPRA under Ahmed’s leadership.

“While we remain alive to our responsibility as watchdogs of the society, especially regarding public office holders entrusted with public funds, we won’t shy away from withdrawing frivolous allegations if we discover that we have been misguided by information initially made available to us,” they concluded.

The civil society groups called for national unity and vigilance, urging the public and the media to uphold truth and fairness in their engagement with public office holders.