Business magnate Aliko Dangote, Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), has formally petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), urging the anti-graft agency to investigate and potentially prosecute Farouk Ahmed, the immediate past Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), on allegations of corruption and abuse of office.
In a letter submitted through his legal counsel, Dr O.J. Onoja SAN, Mr Dangote requested that the EFCC probe claims that Mr Ahmed enriched himself corruptly while serving as the regulator’s chief executive. The petition also seeks a full criminal prosecution if sufficient evidence of wrongdoing is established.
The legal filing follows the withdrawal of a similar complaint from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) — a strategic decision, according to the statement, intended to accelerate the prosecution process.
In his appeal to the EFCC, Mr Dangote’s counsel emphasised that the commission and its partner agencies are well-placed to handle financial crime cases, and noted past judicial precedents in corruption prosecutions. The document stated that once a prima facie case has been established, courts “do not hesitate to punish offenders.”
The petition described allegations that Mr Ahmed may have lived beyond his lawful means, pointing to expenditures on foreign education for his children that allegedly ran into millions of dollars. Included were details of the children’s schooling in Switzerland and higher education costs, which were cited as grounds for concern over potential conflicts of interest and a lack of accountability in regulatory oversight.
Mr Onoja urged the EFCC, led by Chairman Olanipekun Olukoyede, to act swiftly and thoroughly, arguing that decisive action would not only address the specific claims against Mr Ahmed but also serve as a deterrent to other public officials who may be tempted to engage in corrupt practices.
The development underscores ongoing tensions in Nigeria’s petroleum regulatory environment and highlights heightened scrutiny over the conduct of past and present public officials. As the case unfolds, it is expected to draw attention from both the public and stakeholders in the country’s anti-corruption efforts.
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