By Ayo Kehinde
Billionaire industrialist and Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Farouk Ahmed, over alleged abuse of office and financial impropriety.
This move comes less than a week after Dangote, on January 5, 2026, notified the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of his decision to withdraw an earlier petition filed against Ahmed.
The original petition, dated December 16, 2025, urged anti-graft agencies to investigate claims that the former NMDPRA chief misused his office for personal gain, violating laws and ethical standards governing public officers.
Engr. Ahmed, who resigned as head of the petroleum regulatory authority on December 17, 2025, following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, is accused of actions inconsistent with the Code of Conduct for Public Officers.
The allegations include claims of unlawful spending of public funds and corrupt enrichment. Specifically, Dangote alleged that Ahmed spent approximately $5 million on his children’s secondary education in Switzerland and an additional $2 million on tertiary education, including a 2025 Harvard MBA program for one of his sons.
A statement issued on Friday by the Dangote Group media team disclosed that the new petition was submitted to the EFCC through Dangote’s legal representative, Dr. O.J. Onoja (SAN).
The statement explained that the decision to shift the case to the EFCC was strategic, aimed at “accelerating the prosecution process.”
In the petition to the EFCC, Dangote urged the commission to thoroughly investigate the allegations and prosecute the former NMDPRA boss if found culpable.
The document stated that Dangote is prepared to provide relevant evidence, including details of the Swiss schools and specific tuition payments, to substantiate the claims of financial misconduct.
“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,” the petition read, citing judicial precedents such as Lawan v. F.R.N (2024).
Dr. Onoja further appealed to the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, to take decisive action, arguing that a swift investigation would serve as a deterrent to other public officers.
While Dangote has moved the case to the EFCC, the ICPC recently declared that the withdrawal of the petition before its commission will not halt its own ongoing investigation into the matter, as the allegations involve the public interest. As of the time of this report, Engr. Farouk Ahmed has not issued an official response to the new petition.
