The chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has formally lodged a corr¥ption petition against Farouk Ahmed, the former Managing Director of the Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), at the Economic and Financial Cr+mes Commission (EFCC). This follows Dangote’s earlier decision to withdraw the same petition from the Independent Corr¥pt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to speed up prosecution.
Signed by Lead Counsel Dr. O.J. Onoja S.A.N, the petition urges the EFCC to probe allegations of ab¥se of office and corr¥pt enrichment against Mr. Ahmed and prosecute him if found guilty. Dangote has promised to provide evidence to support claims of financial misconduct.
Onoja emphasized that the EFCC, working alongside other relevant agencies, is well-positioned to investigate and prosecute financial cr+mes. He cited recent case law highlighting the judiciary’s readiness to punish offenders once a prima facie case is established. He added that swift action on the complaint would serve as a deterrent to other public officials with corr¥pt tendencies.
The petition comes after Dangote raised concerns in December 2025 over Mr. Ahmed’s financial activities, pointing out that the former regulator’s four children attended elite Swiss schools, incurring expenses of about $5 million for secondary education and an additional $2 million for tertiary studies, including a Harvard MBA. Dangote questioned the source of such funds, noting the stark contrast with the struggles of parents in Mr. Ahmed’s home state of Sokoto.
Dangote’s submission calls for a thorough investigation to ensure accountability and strengthen public trust in Nigeria’s oil and gas regulatory institutions.
