The Chairman of Dangote Industries, Aliko Dangote, has lodged a formal corruption complaint against Farouk Ahmed, the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
This was confirmed in a statement provided to our correspondent by the Dangote Group media team on Friday.
Earlier, Dangote had approached the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), urging an investigation into Ahmed for allegedly spending $5 million on his children’s secondary education in Switzerland. Although Dangote recently withdrew that petition, the ICPC has stated that it will continue with its investigation.
The statement on Friday said Dangote’s petition to the EFCC followed “The withdrawal of the same petition from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, a strategic decision aimed at accelerating the prosecution process.”
In the petition, signed by Lead Counsel Dr O.J. Onoja, Dangote urged the EFCC to investigate allegations of abuse of office and corrupt enrichment against Ahmed, and to prosecute him if found culpable.
The petition further stated that Dangote would provide evidence to substantiate claims of financial misconduct and impunity.
“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,” the petition read.
Onoja further urged the commission, under the leadership of 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.”