Again, the Concerned Citizens Network of Nigeria (CCNN) has faulted the managing director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr. Farouk Ahmed, for allegedly spending over N8.2 billion on his family members as fees in institutions of higher learning abroad in breach of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB)

At a press conference on Monday in Abuja, the CCNN, led by Dr. Emmanuel Agibi, urged the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate how a civil servant’s salary could fund such lavish expenditure.

“In a nation where over 10 million children, particularly in the north, lack access to basic education, this lavish spending by a public servant is not merely a matter of personal choice—it is a moral outrage,” they noted.

“While countless Nigerian families struggle to afford primary schooling, Ahmed’s children attended secondary institutions costing more per term than the annual budgets of some federal colleges. This stark inequality represents an injustice that cannot be ignored.

“The absence of transparency regarding how these ongoing expenses are funded further fuels public suspicion. If Ahmed’s wealth can support such elite secondary and tertiary education, the public deserves to know the legitimate sources of these funds, especially given his role as a public servant accountable to Nigerian taxpayers.”

They maintained that their allegations are grounded in rigorous evidence, stemming from a petition to the Attorney-General of the Federation after weeks of verification, fact-finding, and review of public records.

They wondered how a public official, whose salary is known and whose assets must be constitutionally declared, could finance such an extraordinary level of overseas education without a visible commercial empire or disclosed inheritance.

They insist that their petition raises serious concerns about potential abuse of office, asset concealment, or diversion of public funds under Ahmed’s leadership at NMDPRA.

They contended that the NMDPRA’s attempt to dismiss their voices as ‘faceless’ is a cynical effort to undermine lawful civic engagement, further eroding public trust.

They argued that the CCB, ICPC, and EFCC have constitutional mandates to investigate cases of unexplained wealth, ensuring that public officials are held accountable.