By: Lauretta Fagbohun, Abeokuta.

The Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Aliko Dangote, has formally petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged corruption and abuse of office by the former Managing Director of the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Farouk Ahmed.

The petition, submitted through Dangote’s legal team at the EFCC headquarters, followed the withdrawal of an earlier petition from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), a move described as strategic and aimed at expediting prosecution.

In the petition signed by lead counsel, Dr. O.J. Onoja, SAN, Dangote urged the EFCC to investigate allegations of corrupt enrichment and abuse of office against the former regulator and to prosecute him if found culpable.

“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 stated, citing recent judicial authorities.

Onoja further called on the EFCC, under the leadership of Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, to thoroughly investigate the allegations against Ahmed and take appropriate legal action if he is found wanting.

The petition also emphasized that swift handling of the matter would not only be imperative but would serve as a deterrent to other public officers with corrupt tendencies.

Dangote’s action, the petition noted, underscores his commitment to transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Recall that on December 14, 2025, Dangote publicly raised concerns about Ahmed’s financial dealings, alleging that the former regulator lived far beyond his legitimate means.

He claimed that four of Ahmed’s children were educated in elite secondary schools in Switzerland at costs running into several millions of dollars, raising questions about the source of the funds and the integrity of regulatory oversight in the downstream petroleum industry.

According to Dangote, Ahmed’s children attended Montreux School, Aiglon College, Institut Le Rosey, and La Garenne International School, each for about six years, with estimated annual costs of $200,000 per child amounting to approximately $5 million in total. He further alleged that an additional $2 million was spent on their tertiary education, including $210,000 for a 2025 Harvard MBA programme.

“Nigerians deserve to know the source of these funds, especially when many parents in Sokoto State struggle to pay as little as ₦10,000 in school fees,” Dangote stated.

The petition calls for a comprehensive investigation, stressing that accountability is necessary to restore public confidence in Nigeria’s regulatory institutions.