The Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, through his legal representative, has filed a corruption petition against the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr Farouk Ahmed, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The petition was submitted at the EFCC headquarters following the withdrawal of a similar complaint earlier filed with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Dangote said the decision to approach the EFCC was aimed at accelerating the prosecution process.
The petition, signed by Lead Counsel, Dr O.J. Onoja, SAN, urged the EFCC to investigate allegations of abuse of office and corrupt enrichment against Ahmed and to prosecute him if found culpable.
It stated that Dangote would provide evidence to substantiate the allegations of financial misconduct and impunity.
“We make bold 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.”
Onoja further urged the EFCC, under the leadership of Mr Olanipekun Olukoyede, “…to investigate the complaint of Abuse of Office and Corruption against Engr. Farouk Ahmed and to accordingly prosecute him if found wanting.”
The petition also stated 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, according to the petition, underscores Dangote’s commitment to transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
It would be recalled that on Dec. 14, 2025, Dangote raised concerns over Ahmed’s financial dealings, alleging that the former regulator was living far beyond his legitimate means.
Dangote alleged that four of Ahmed’s children attended elite secondary schools in Switzerland, with costs running into several millions of dollars.
He said the expenditure raised questions about potential conflicts of interest and the integrity of regulatory oversight in the downstream petroleum sector.
Dangote listed the schools attended by Ahmed’s children as Montreux School, Aiglon College, Institut Le Rosey and La Garenne International School.
He noted that each child spent six years in the schools and estimated annual tuition, travel and upkeep per child at 200,000 dollars.
According to him, this amounted to approximately five million dollars for their secondary education.
Dangote further alleged that an additional two million dollars was spent on tertiary education for the four children, including 210,000 dollars for a 2025 Harvard MBA programme.
“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 N10,000 in school fees,” Dangote stated.
The petition called for a comprehensive investigation to ensure accountability and restore public confidence in Nigeria’s regulatory institutions.
