Author: Gist Correspondent

Aliko Dangote, Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), has formally filed a corruption petition against former Managing Director of the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The petition, submitted through Dangote’s lead counsel, Dr. O.J. Onoja S.A.N, follows the withdrawal of a similar complaint from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), a strategic move aimed at accelerating investigation and prosecution.

Speaking to reporters, Onoja said, “We make bold to state that the commission is strategically positioned, along with sister agencies, to prosecute financial crimes and corruption-related offences. Upon establishing a prima facie case, the courts do not hesitate to punish offenders. We therefore urge the EFCC to investigate the complaint of abuse of office and corruption against Engr. Farouk Ahmed and to prosecute him if found wanting.”

The petition accuses Mr. Ahmed of illicit enrichment and abuse of office, citing his children’s education abroad as evidence of unexplained wealth. Dangote highlighted that four of Ahmed’s children attended elite Swiss secondary schools—Montreux School, Aiglon College, Institut Le Rosey, and La Garenne International School—over six years, with annual tuition, upkeep, and travel costs estimated at $200,000 per child. This totals approximately $5 million for secondary education alone.

Dangote further alleged, “The former regulator spent another $2 million on tertiary education for his children, including $210,000 for Faisal Farouk’s 2025 Harvard MBA program. Nigerians deserve to know the source of these funds, especially when many parents in Mr. Ahmed’s home state of Sokoto struggle to pay as little as ₦10,000 in school fees.”

Onoja stressed that the EFCC’s intervention is crucial, not only for prosecution but also for public deterrence. “The commission’s firm resolve in handling this matter with dispatch is imperative and expedient. It will also serve as a deterrent to other public officers with such corrupt tendencies,” he said.

The petition underscores Dangote’s commitment to transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. It calls for a comprehensive investigation into the former regulator’s financial dealings to restore public confidence in regulatory institutions.

Dangote’s action comes in the wake of growing public concern over corruption in the downstream petroleum sector, where allegations of regulatory impropriety have repeatedly surfaced. The EFCC is now expected to determine the veracity of the claims and take appropriate legal action.