Lawyers protest at national assembly, demand sack of NMDPRA CEO over ‘abuse of office’

The protesters

A group known as Public Interest Lawyers have demanded the sack of Farouk Ahmed, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

During a protest at the national assembly on Tuesday, the lawyers accused Ahmed of diversion of funds and abuse of office.

The lawmakers asked the national assembly to probe the allegations and recommend sanctions against Ahmed immediately.“We urge the Senate to commence an immediate and public investigative hearing into these allegations, summoning Mr Farouk Ahmed and relevant stakeholders,” the petition reads.

“Recommend his immediate sack and suspend him from office to prevent interference with ongoing investigations.

“Institute sweeping reforms in the appointment, conduct, and oversight of regulatory agency heads in the oil and gas sector.

“This is a defining moment for the National Assembly to rise in defence of public interest, uphold its constitutional oversight duty, and send a strong message that corruption, abuse of power, and impunity have no place in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The petition, signed by Samuel Ihensekhien, the group’s coordinator, was received by Kawu Ismaila, chairman of the senate committee on oil and gas. Thecable