Dangote Petitions EFCC over Alleged Corruption by Former NMDPRA Chief

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

The petition, submitted through Dangote’s legal representative, follows the withdrawal of an earlier complaint lodged with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), a move described as strategic and intended to fast-track prosecution.

Signed by Lead Counsel, Dr O.J. Onoja, S.A.N, the petition urges the EFCC to investigate allegations of abuse of office and corrupt enrichment levelled against Mr Ahmed and to prosecute him should a prima facie case be established.

“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 called on the commission, under the leadership of its Chairman, 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 underscores Dangote’s stated commitment to transparency and accountability within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. It will be recalled that on December 14, 2025, Dangote publicly raised concerns over Mr Ahmed’s financial lifestyle, alleging that the former regulator was living far beyond his legitimate means.

According to Dangote, four of Mr Ahmed’s children attended elite secondary schools in Switzerland at a cost running into several millions of dollars, raising questions about possible conflicts of interest and the integrity of regulatory oversight in the downstream petroleum industry.

Dangote listed the schools attended by Mr Ahmed’s children as Montreux School (Faisal Farouk), Aiglon College (Farouk Jr.), Institut Le Rosey (Ashraf Farouk), and La Garenne International School (Farhana Farouk), noting that each child spent six years at these institutions. He estimated annual tuition, travel and upkeep per child at $200,000, bringing the total cost of their secondary education to approximately $5 million.

He further alleged that an additional $2 million was spent on the children’s tertiary education, including $210,000 for Faisal’s 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 ₦10,000 in school fees,” Dangote stated.

The petition calls for a thorough investigation, stressing that accountability is essential to restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s regulatory institutions.