Aliko Dangote, chairman of Dangote Group, has filed a corruption petition against former Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) Managing Director, Farouk Ahmed, at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headquarters.
The petition was submitted less than 24 hours after Africa’s richest man withdrew an identical corruption complaint against Ahmed from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
In the petition signed by Lead Counsel Dr O.J. Onoja S.A.N, Dangote requested the EFCC to investigate allegations of abuse of office and corrupt enrichment against Mr Ahmed and prosecute him if evidence warrants.
“We dare to state that the commission is strategically positioned along with sister agencies to prosecute financial crimes and corruption-related offences, and upon establishing a prima facie case, the courts do not hesitate to punish offenders. See Lawan v. F.R.N (2024) 12 NWLR (Pt. 1953) 501 and Shema v. F.R.N. (2018) 9 NWLR (Pt. 1624) 337,” the petition stated.
Onoja urged the commission, under the leadership of Mr Olanipekun Olukoyede, to investigate the complaint and prosecute Ahmed if found wanting.
The petition emphasized that “the commission’s firm resolve in handling this matter with dispatch is not only imperative and expedient but will also serve as a deterrent to other public officers out there with such corrupt proneness and tendencies.”
The development underscores Dangote’s commitment to transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
On December 14, 2025, Dangote raised concerns about Mr Ahmed’s financial dealings, alleging the former regulator is living beyond his legitimate means. According to Dangote, four of Mr Ahmed’s children attended elite secondary schools in Switzerland, incurring costs running into several million dollars—expenditures that raise questions about potential conflicts of interest and regulatory integrity in the downstream petroleum industry.
Dangote identified the schools attended by Mr Ahmed’s children: Faisal Farouk (Montreux School), Farouk Jr. (Aiglon College), Ashraf Farouk (Institut Le Rosey), and Farhana Farouk (La Garenne International School), noting each child spent six years at these institutions. He estimated annual tuition, travel, and upkeep per child at $200,000, totaling approximately $5 million for their secondary education.
Additionally, Dangote alleged Mr Ahmed spent another $2 million on tertiary education for the four children, including $210,000 for Faisal’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,” Dangote stated.
The petition calls for comprehensive investigation to ensure accountability and restore public confidence in Nigeria’s regulatory institutions.
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