Dangote Files Corruption Petition Against Former NMDPRA Boss with EFCC
Aliko Dangote, Chairman of Dangote Industries, has filed a formal corruption petition against the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headquarters.
The Dangote Group disclosed the development in a statement on Friday, explaining that the petition was submitted through Dangote’s legal team, led by Dr O.J. Onoja. The move comes shortly after Dangote withdrew a similar petition from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which had been investigating allegations that Ahmed spent $5 million on his children’s secondary education in Switzerland. Despite the withdrawal, the ICPC said its investigation would continue.
According to the statement, the decision to move the petition to the EFCC was “a strategic decision aimed at accelerating the prosecution process.” Dangote urged the EFCC to investigate allegations of abuse of office and corrupt enrichment against Ahmed, and to prosecute him if the evidence warrants it.
The petition emphasises that Dangote will provide necessary evidence to support claims of financial misconduct and impunity. It also cited past court rulings to highlight that the EFCC and other agencies are legally empowered to prosecute financial crimes and corruption cases.
“We make bold to state that the commission is strategically positioned, along with sister agencies, to prosecute financial crimes and corruption-related offences. Upon establishing a prima facie case, the courts do not hesitate to punish offenders,” the petition stated, referencing Lawan v. F.R.N (2024) and Shema v. F.R.N. (2018).
Dr Onoja, leading the petition, urged the EFCC under Chairman Olanipekun Olukoyede to carefully investigate the allegations against Farouk Ahmed and ensure that he is prosecuted if found guilty of abuse of office or corrupt enrichment.
This latest move marks a significant escalation in Dangote’s pursuit of accountability, highlighting his willingness to leverage both legal and institutional channels to address alleged corruption in Nigeria’s petroleum regulatory sector.
