24th December 2025, NewsOrient, News, Law And Society, Governance And Development Business And Economy

A youth advocate and social critic, Engr Nwabueze Onwuneme, has tasked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that the allegation of massive corruption and diversion of public funds, which Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the Chairman of Dangote Group, levelled against Engr Ahmed Farouk, will serve as the much needed springboard for proper investigation of the massive corruption ongoing in Nigerian oil industry.

Onwuneme gave the advice while commenting on ICPC’s confirmation of it’s readiness to probe the matters arising from the petition and the consequent resignation of Farouk and his counterpart in the Upstream Regulatory Commission, Gbenga Komolafe.

Reacting to the development,
Onwuneme called on President Tinubu to ensure that this investigation is accorded all the seriousness it deserves.

“Dangote should be taken seriously because he is not known to be flippant. Also, being a major player in the field, I believe he knows what obtains there,” the advocate said.

He added: “Thank Dangote for raising the alarm. It has been an open secret that Nigeria oil sector will need more openness and proper accountability. The issue of high level corruption in the Midstream, Downstream and Upstream sectors of the oil industry in Nigeria is so crucial and central to the country’s economy that President Tinubu cannot afford to joke over this allegation, especially considering the personality of the petitioner – a major player.”

The activist welcomed the idea of the resignation of the top officials of the Downstream, Midstream and Upstream sectors, pointing out that the move should aid proper investigation of the allegations of grave corruption in the sectors.

He also threatened: “If President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government of Nigeria however fails to conduct satisfactory investigation of this allegation, and if proper action is not taken within reasonable time, I will personally report this matter to the UK Parliament for greater global attention.”

He commended Dangote for coming out boldly to demand probe of top level corruption in the oil sector regulatory arms, describing the businessman’s action as “patriotic because corruption in this crucial sectors not only affects all Nigerians but it also affects the very roots of the country’s economy.”

Aliko Dangote submitted the petition against NMDPRA boss, Farouk Ahmed, to the ICPC on 16th December 2025, through his lawyer, James Onoja SAN, accusing Farouk Ahmed of corrupt enrichment, abuse of office and impunity.

He specifically alleged that Engr Farouk Ahmed abused his office when he diverted over 7 million USD of public funds which he used to train his four (4) teenage children in some named schools abroad.

Following the allegation of corruption which Dangote levelled against Farouk Ahmed before the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, Ahmed was forced to resign his position as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, on Wednesday.

Also, in a related development, the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Gbenga Komolafe, followed suit and resigned his appointment.

President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, immediately confirmed Mr President’s acceptance of the resignations and that he has immediately approached the Senate to confirm replacements for the two top officials. He proposed Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as the new CEO of NUPRC and Engineer Aliyu Mohammed as the new CEO of NMDPRA.”

~ Published By NewsOrient Network

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