The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, has denied issuing any statement in response to allegations raised against him by the President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

Ahmed, in a short statement made available to our correspondent on Wednesday, said he did not authorise the statement circulating on social media on the matter.

At a press briefing at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lekki, Lagos, on Sunday, Dangote called for a full investigation into the source of funds used by Ahmed, urging him to appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal to offer a public explanation.

“I’ve actually had people making complaints about a regulator who has actually put his children in secondary school. And that secondary school education, which is six years, four of them cost Nigeria $5m. I mean, you cannot imagine somebody paying $5m for educating four children,” Dangote said.

Dangote also petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to probe Ahmed’s financial activities, while alleging that the regulator’s actions amounted to economic sabotage that could undermine public trust and investor confidence, especially as he granted licences for fuel importation.

On Tuesday, a statement purportedly signed by Ahmed went viral, but the NMDPRA team told our correspondent that it was false.

Speaking, Ahmed said the viral statement did not emanate from him.

He said he had chosen not to engage in public brickbats despite being aware of the allegations against him and his family.

“My attention has been drawn to a purported response I was said to have made on the recent allegations against my person. I hereby state categorically that the so-called statement did not emanate from me.

“While I am aware of the wild and spurious allegations made against me and my family and the frenzy it has generated, as a regulator of a sensitive industry, I have opted not to engage in public brickbats,” he said.

The regulator expressed satisfaction that Dangote had taken the matter before the ICPC, believing this would allow him to clear his name.

“Thankfully, the person behind the allegations has taken it to a formal investigative institution. I believe that would provide an opportunity to dispassionately distil the issues and to clear my name,” he concluded.