KEY POINTS
- SERAP has asked Nigeria’s main anti-corruption agencies to jointly investigate allegations against NMDPRA and its chief executive, Farouk Ahmed.
- The call follows claims by Aliko Dangote over licensing practices and the source of funds for alleged personal expenditure by the regulator’s head.
- The rights group also urged the federal government to protect Dangote as a whistleblower under Nigeria’s constitution and international anti-corruption commitments.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has called on Nigeria’s leading anti-corruption bodies to urgently investigate allegations of wrongdoing within the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, following claims made by Aliko Dangote, the president of the Dangote Group.
In a statement issued on Monday, the advocacy group asked the Code of Conduct Bureau, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to jointly examine the allegations, recover any proceeds of corruption and ensure accountability where breaches are established.
The call comes days after Dangote publicly questioned aspects of the regulator’s operations, including its licensing practices and the personal finances of its chief executive, Farouk Ahmed. SERAP said the claims raise serious concerns about transparency and governance in a sector that sits at the heart of Nigeria’s economy.
According to the organisation, the anti-graft agencies should invite Ahmed for questioning over allegations that the authority arbitrarily issues licences for the importation of petroleum products, including from Russia. SERAP also cited claims that the NMDPRA chief spent about $5 million on the secondary education of four of his children in Switzerland, arguing that the source of such funds deserves close scrutiny.
Rights group says investigation would strengthen accountability in oil and gas regulation
SERAP said a thorough investigation would help restore confidence in the management of Nigeria’s natural resources, particularly at a time when the country is seeking to reform its downstream oil and gas sector and reduce its dependence on fuel imports.
In its statement, the group referenced Section 15(5) of the 1999 Constitution, which obliges the Nigerian state to abolish corrupt practices and abuse of power. It also pointed to Nigeria’s commitments under the United Nations Convention against Corruption, which requires signatory states to impose effective and proportionate sanctions for corruption-related offences.
Beyond calling for a probe, SERAP urged President Bola Tinubu and the federal government to ensure protection for Dangote as a whistleblower. The organisation cited Article 33 of the UN convention, which encourages states to safeguard individuals who report corruption in the public interest from retaliation or unjust treatment.
“The allegations by Mr Aliko Dangote amount to public interest disclosures and can contribute to strengthening transparency and accountability in the management of the country’s natural wealth and resources,” the group said.
Dangote made the allegations during a media briefing on Sunday focused on challenges in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum industry. In addition to claims of corruption, he accused the regulator of releasing figures that, in his view, do not accurately reflect production levels at his Lekki-based refinery, saying the data presents a distorted picture of operations.
Neither the NMDPRA nor its leadership has publicly responded to the latest calls for investigation.
