- Dangote submits corruption petition against former NMDPRA MD, Farouk Ahmed, at EFCC.
- Petition withdrawn from ICPC to allow faster prosecution, according to lawyers.
- Allegations include abuse of office and living far beyond legitimate income.
- EFCC urged to investigate and prosecute if evidence supports the claims.
Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has filed a detailed corruption petition against Farouk Ahmed, the immediate past Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The petition, submitted at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja through Dangote’s legal team, follows the withdrawal of an earlier complaint lodged with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The move was described as a strategic decision aimed at speeding up investigation and possible prosecution.
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In the petition signed by senior advocate O.J. Onoja, SAN, Dangote urged the EFCC to probe allegations of abuse of office, corrupt enrichment, and financial misconduct against Ahmed.
“The commission is strategically positioned to investigate and prosecute financial crimes, and where a prima facie case is established, the courts do not hesitate to punish offenders,” the petition stated.
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Dangote also appealed directly to EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, asking the agency to act swiftly in the interest of transparency and public trust.
The industrialist had earlier raised concerns about Ahmed’s lifestyle, alleging that the former regulator lived far beyond his known income. According to the petition, Ahmed reportedly sent four of his children to elite boarding schools in Switzerland, with annual costs estimated at about $200,000 per child.
Dangote claimed that the total cost of their secondary education ran into approximately $5 million, with an additional $2 million allegedly spent on university education, including a $210,000 Harvard MBA programme in 2025.
“Nigerians deserve to know the source of these funds, especially when many parents struggle to pay basic school fees,” Dangote said.
He stressed that the allegations raise serious questions about integrity and accountability within Nigeria’s petroleum regulatory system.
Meanwhile, the ICPC has confirmed that it will continue its own investigation into the matter despite the withdrawal of Dangote’s petition. The agency said its enabling law allows it to proceed once an investigation has begun.
Ahmed has denied all accusations, describing them as “wild and spurious.” The dispute reportedly followed comments he made in 2024 questioning the quality of locally refined petroleum products, including those from the Dangote Refinery.
