The Sokoto State Students Forum (SSSF) has demanded the immediate removal of the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Ahmed Farouk, accusing him of a grave betrayal of public trust.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In a statement signed by its president, Abdullahi Al‑Majeed, the group alleged that Farouk had “mocked the suffering of Nigerian students” by diverting public funds to finance his children’s luxury education abroad, even as millions of children—particularly in the North—remain out of school.

“The allegations against Engr. Farouk Ahmed are deeply troubling to every well‑meaning Nigerian, especially students who are already disillusioned by systemic corruption,” Al‑Majeed said.

The SSSF leader explained that the forum had reviewed documents provided by credible civil society organisations, including school records showing that Farouk’s children—Faisal Farouk, Ashraf Farouk, Farouk Jr., and Farhana Farouk—were enrolled in elite institutions such as Aiglon College, La Garenne International School, Institut Le Rosey, and Montreux Secondary School, where annual tuition alone exceeds $130,000, excluding other expenses.

“It is outrageous that a public servant in a country with over 10 million out‑of‑school children would lavish $5.5 million on foreign education for his children,” Al‑Majeed said.
“The facts are public. The figures are staggering. The Presidency’s silence is deafening, and the damage to public confidence is profound.”

According to Al‑Majeed, young people across the North are watching to see whether President Bola Tinubu will apply the same standard of accountability he enforced in the case of former minister Betta Edu:

“This is not just about Farouk Ahmed; it’s about the moral credibility of the government. If the President could act swiftly in Betta Edu’s case, he must do the same here. No public official is above the law,” he said.

The group insisted that Farouk’s continued stay in office was “untenable and dangerous” for the integrity of Nigeria’s public service. It also accused the NMDPRA of spending public funds on full‑page newspaper adverts designed to distract and deflect rather than provide evidence of legitimate income that could cover such extravagant expenses.

“Instead of gaslighting the public, the agency should have published verifiable proof of how the NMDPRA boss could legitimately afford such luxury. That silence speaks volumes,” Al‑Majeed added.

He further disclosed that students in Sokoto and neighbouring states were already mobilising for peaceful mass protests if the Federal Government fails to act:

“We are consulting. And if nothing is done, we will come to Abuja. Enough is enough,” he declared.

Meanwhile, in a twist to the controversy,  recalls that the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) had previously apologised to Farouk Ahmed over similar allegations.

In an earlier letter, NANS accused the NMDPRA leadership of mismanaging public funds, engaging in contract and job racketeering, and abusing office. The letter claimed civil society organisations had sought NANS’s support to mobilise students for mass protests demanding Farouk’s resignation.

However, in a statement signed by NANS Public Relations Officer Adeyemi Ajasa, the association admitted those allegations were unverified and misleading:

“After further investigations and engagements with relevant stakeholders, we have discovered that the issues raised in my earlier correspondence were unfounded and do not accurately reflect the true state of affairs within the agency,” Ajasa said.
“As the voice of over 40 million Nigerian students, NANS remains committed to truth, fairness, and constructive engagement.”

Ajasa added that Farouk Ahmed was, in fact, spearheading reforms to modernize the midstream and downstream sectors of the petroleum industry—a vision, he said, that aligns with students’ aspirations for a more transparent and prosperous Nigeria.