Dangote Petitions EFCC Over Alleged Corruption by Former NMDPRA Boss
Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Aliko Dangote, has filed a formal petition with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged corruption and abuse of office by a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed.
The petition, submitted through Dangote’s legal team at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, follows the withdrawal of a similar complaint earlier lodged with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). According to the petitioners, the decision to approach the EFCC was taken to accelerate investigation and possible prosecution of the allegations.
Signed by lead counsel Dr. O.J. Onoja, SAN, the petition urges the anti-graft agency to investigate claims of abuse of office and corrupt enrichment against the former regulator and to initiate prosecution should a prima facie case be established.
The petition noted that the EFCC, working in collaboration with sister agencies, is strategically positioned to investigate financial crimes and corruption-related offences, citing past judicial precedents where offenders were successfully prosecuted and punished upon conviction.
Onoja further called on the leadership of the EFCC, under its Chairman Olanipekun Olukoyede, to act decisively on the complaint, stressing that swift action would serve the interest of justice and act as a deterrent to other public officials inclined toward corrupt practices.
According to the petition, prompt handling of the matter is critical to strengthening accountability and restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s anti-corruption institutions, particularly within the petroleum regulatory space.
Dangote said the development reflects his continued commitment to transparency and integrity in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Recall that in December 2025, Dangote publicly raised concerns over Mr. Ahmed’s financial dealings, alleging that the former regulator was living far beyond his legitimate means. Central to the allegations are claims that four of Mr. Ahmed’s children attended elite private secondary schools in Switzerland at costs running into several millions of dollars.
The schools listed include Montreux School, Aiglon College, Institut Le Rosey, and La Garenne International School, attended by Faisal Farouk, Farouk Jr., Ashraf Farouk, and Farhana Farouk respectively. Dangote alleged that each child spent about six years in these institutions, with estimated annual expenses of roughly $200,000 per child covering tuition, travel, and upkeep—amounting to about $5 million for secondary education alone.
The petition further claimed that an additional $2 million was spent on tertiary education for the four children, including approximately $210,000 for Faisal Farouk’s MBA programme at Harvard University in 2025.
“Nigerians deserve to know the source of these funds, especially when many parents in Mr. Ahmed’s home state of Sokoto struggle to pay as little as ₦10,000 in school fees,” Dangote was quoted as saying.
The petition calls for a comprehensive investigation into the allegations, emphasising that accountability is essential to restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s regulatory institutions and safeguarding the credibility of the petroleum sector.
