Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has said Farouk Ahmed, the former chief executive officer and managing director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), deserves to be hanged over his actions while in office.
Mr Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State, made the remarks on Thursday during plenary at the Senate while Saidu Aliyu Mohammed was being screened following his nomination as the new chief executive of the NMDPRA.
“Your predecessor, Mr Ahmed Farouk, who was removed, and I celebrated it last night. He needed to be hanged,” said Mr Osiomhole. “In my previous statement, I said if we don’t hang him, he will hang Nigeria.”
He added, “Anyone who is opposed to jobs being created in Nigeria, who prefers importation, importing poverty here and exporting out prosperity abroad, does not deserve to live. I want to see how his case will be pursued to a conclusion.”
The lawmaker also cautioned Mr Mohammed against repeating what he described as the failures of his predecessor, criticising him over “very shameful performance policy choices.”
“Looking at your CV, you are qualified. The issue for me is not about qualification. It’s about policy choices, and that’s why I want to learn from you. Everywhere in the world, the nations make deliberate efforts to protect local industries to create jobs,” Mr Oshiomhole said, asking the nominee how he intended to chart a different course at the agency.
Mr Oshiomhole’s comments followed Mr Ahmed’s resignation after Aliko Dangote, president and chief executive of Dangote Industries Limited, accused him of living far above his earnings.
In a petition submitted to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr Dangote called for the arrest, investigation and prosecution of Mr Ahmed, alleging that the former regulator lived beyond his lawful means as a public servant.
However, Mr Ahmed rejected the allegations in a statement circulated on the NMDPRA’s X page on Wednesday, describing the claims as baseless.
He added, “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. 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.”
The ICPC on Tuesday acknowledged receiving Mr Dangote’s petition against Mr Farouk, stating that it would investigate allegations of corruption and financial impropriety levelled against him.
(PEOPLES GAZZETE)
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