The Concerned Citizens Network of Nigeria (CCNN) has called on Engr. Farouk Ahmed, chief executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), to publicly disclose the source of funds allegedly used to sponsor his children’s multi-million dollar education abroad.
In a press conference held in Abuja on Monday, the group criticised Ahmed’s recent full-page newspaper advertisements as a “disgraceful charade” and “diversionary tactic” to avoid addressing serious corruption allegations.
The unsigned ads, published in ThisDay, The Guardian, Vanguard, BusinessDay, and Daily Trust on July 11, failed to directly respond to claims that Ahmed spent over $5.5 million on secondary education for his four children overseas.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Emmanuel Agibi, a medical doctor and CCNN’s convener, said the allegations were backed by verified documents and public records submitted in a petition to the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Agibi listed the schools attended by Ahmed’s children: Montreux School, Aiglon College, Institut Le Rosey, and La Garenne International School, all based in Switzerland and widely regarded as some of the most expensive secondary schools in the world.
His words: “For six years, each child is estimated to have cost between $1.08 million and $1.2 million, including tuition, flights, and living expenses.
“Cumulatively, this amounts to over $5 million spent on secondary education alone. Now, they are enrolled in elite foreign universities, with one already graduating from Harvard where costs reportedly exceeded $150,000.”
The group questioned how Ahmed, who has spent his entire career in the federal civil service, could afford such expenses without any known private business or inheritance.
“In a country where over 10 million children are out of school, such extravagance by a public servant is a moral and economic outrage.
“The burden of proof lies with Engr. Ahmed. Nigerians deserve to know if these funds were earned legitimately or diverted from public resources,” the group stated.
The CCNN said the NMDPRA’s response to public concerns was inadequate, adding that the agency neither denied the children’s attendance at the listed schools nor offered any explanation for how their education was financed.
The group accused the agency of dismissing civic protests as “faceless” and relying on vague appeals to Ahmed’s “reputation” and “integrity”.
“In a democracy, this is not enough. Public office demands transparency. The NMDPRA boss must explain his wealth,” Agbi said.
The group called on the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to immediately open an investigation into the allegations.
He added that CCNN would intensify legal actions and civic mobilisation until a full investigation is launched.
