Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Aliko Dangote, has escalated an alleged corruption case against the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The petition was submitted through Dangote’s legal representative, barely 24 hours after he withdrew a similar complaint earlier filed with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
In a statement issued on Friday, Dangote said the decision to approach the EFCC was strategic and aimed at speeding up the investigation and prosecution process.
The petition, signed by Lead Counsel Dr O.J. Onoja, urged the EFCC to investigate allegations of abuse of office and corrupt enrichment against Mr Ahmed and to prosecute him if the claims are proven.
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“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 stated.
The senior advocate further appealed to the EFCC, under the leadership of its Chairman, 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 stressed the importance of swift action, stating 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”.
According to the statement, the latest move underscores Dangote’s commitment to transparency and accountability within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Pinnacle Daily recalls that Dangote had earlier, on December 14, 2025, raised concerns over Mr Ahmed’s financial dealings, alleging that the former regulator was living far beyond his lawful earnings.
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He claimed that four of Mr Ahmed’s children attended elite secondary schools in Switzerland, with costs running into millions of dollars, a situation he said raises serious questions about conflicts of interest and the integrity of regulatory oversight in the downstream petroleum industry.
He listed the schools attended by Mr Ahmed’s children as Montreux School, Aiglon College, Institut Le Rosey, and La Garenne International School, noting that each child spent six years in these institutions. He estimated annual tuition, travel, and upkeep at $200,000 per child, bringing the total cost of their secondary education to about $5 million.
Dangote further alleged that an additional $2 million was spent on the children’s tertiary education, including $210,000 for Faisal’s Harvard MBA programme in 2025.
“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,” he stated.
He calls on the EFCC to carry out a thorough investigation to ensure accountability and help restore public confidence in Nigeria’s regulatory institutions.
Alex is a business journalist cum data enthusiast with the Pinnacle Daily. He can be reached via ealex@thepinnacleng.com, @ehime_alex on X
