The Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative (EUYI) has warned against ongoing efforts by unidentified persons to blackmail and witch-hunt the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Farouk Ahmed.

EUYI’s National Secretary, Comrade Igwe Ude-umanta, at a press conference held in Abuja, wondered why such persons operating under the spurious banner of a yet to be identified Civil Society Organisation (CSOs) went out of their way to question Ahmed for sending his children abroad to study in various institutions of learning.

The group maintained that findings indicate that Ahmed is not involved in any official malfeasance, but they called on him to remain focused on his job since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is very impressed with his performance on the saddle.

Frowning at the attempt to blackmail Ahmed, the group noted, “Why has that of Engr. Ahmed’s children become an issue, if not that there is a sponsor who is out to blackmail and embarrass him at all costs?

“The allegation about him embezzling $5 million is just a mendacious claim added to the baseless issue of his children’s school allegations, to make the charade somewhat newsworthy.

“We are certain that it was the reason many credible media organisations threw their claims into the trash where they belong. The original purveyors of this laughable allegation had already recanted, apologised and admitted that they were grossly misinformed.

“So, these attention seekers are probably hoping that through blackmail, Engr. Ahmed could feel embarrassed and reach out for rapprochement.

“Therefore, these ragtag groups should desist from these acts of tactical defamation in the name of Civil Society activism and fight against non-existent cases of corruption.”

The group urged Ahmed to assert his right to defend himself from defamation and libellous activities of the group.