Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Aliko Dangote, has escalated his corruption allegations against a former top petroleum regulator by formally submitting a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), calling for a thorough investigation and possible prosecution.
The petition targets Engr. Farouk Ahmed, former Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and was filed at the EFCC headquarters by Dangote’s legal team, led by Dr. O.J. Onoja, SAN. The move follows the withdrawal of an earlier petition from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), a step understood to be aimed at ensuring faster and more effective handling of the allegations.
In the petition, Dangote urges the EFCC to probe claims of abuse of office and illicit enrichment allegedly committed by the former regulator during his time in office. The legal team expressed confidence in the EFCC’s institutional capacity to handle complex financial crime cases, citing recent judicial precedents that affirm the courts’ readiness to sanction public officers found guilty of corruption.
Dr. Onoja specifically called on the EFCC, under the leadership of its Chairman, Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, to investigate the allegations “with dispatch” and proceed with prosecution should a prima facie case be established. According to the petition, decisive action in the matter would not only serve justice but also deter other public officials inclined toward corrupt practices.
Beyond the legal arguments, the petition raises broader concerns about transparency and integrity within Nigeria’s oil and gas regulatory framework. Dangote alleged that Mr. Ahmed’s lifestyle and financial commitments while in public service were grossly inconsistent with his known legitimate earnings.
Central to the allegations are claims that four of Mr. Ahmed’s children were educated in elite private secondary schools in Switzerland at costs running into millions of dollars. Dangote listed the institutions as Montreux School, Aiglon College, Institut Le Rosey, and La Garenne International School, noting that each child reportedly spent six years in these schools. He estimated the combined cost of tuition, travel, and upkeep at about $200,000 per child annually, amounting to roughly $5 million over the period.
The petition further alleges that an additional $2 million was spent on the children’s tertiary education, including about $210,000 for a Harvard MBA programme reportedly undertaken by one of the children in 2025.
Dangote questioned the source of such funds, arguing that Nigerians deserve clear answers, particularly at a time when many families, especially in Mr. Ahmed’s home state of Sokoto, struggle to meet basic educational expenses.
By taking the matter to the EFCC, Dangote says he hopes to see a comprehensive investigation that will reinforce accountability, strengthen public trust in regulatory institutions, and underscore the principle that public office should not be a pathway to unexplained wealth.