The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has insisted that the resignation of Farouk Ahmed, former Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), should not halt investigations into allegations of corruption against him.

NBA President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), emphasized that serious accusations, including forgery and false asset declarations, require thorough scrutiny and cannot be dismissed simply because a public officer has stepped down. Speaking on Arise News TV, Osigwe warned that allowing officials to quietly exit office without accountability weakens institutions and entrenches a culture of impunity.

“Resignation does not equate to exoneration. Allegations of this nature are too weighty to be treated as administrative convenience or political expediency,” Osigwe said. He stressed that public interest demands that claims be investigated to their logical conclusion, either to clear the individual or to establish guilt based on credible evidence.

The NBA president also cautioned against a recurring pattern where serious allegations are raised, resignations follow, and public interest fades without transparent inquiry. Such practices, he warned, undermine public confidence in governance and reduce accountability processes to mere political manoeuvres.

Osigwe highlighted that the failure to investigate not only affects the individuals involved but also damages the credibility of public institutions. He called for accountability to extend beyond symbolic gestures to demonstrable outcomes that assure citizens that no one is above the law.

“Allowing allegations to quietly die with resignations sends a dangerous signal that public office can serve as a shield against scrutiny,” he said, noting that this erodes deterrence and weakens institutional authority.

While refraining from taking sides in the dispute between the NMDPRA and the Dangote Group, Osigwe stressed that the perception of corruption can be as damaging as proven misconduct, making thorough investigations essential for public trust and institutional integrity.