Sopuruchi Onwuka

The dispute between Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, and the former Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Farouk Ahmed, has escalated beyond a regulatory clash into a full-blown personal confrontation.

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Following earlier allegations of financial impropriety that reportedly led to Ahmed’s removal from office, the Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) has now petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), urging it to investigate claims of abuse of office and corrupt enrichment against the former regulator.

Former Chief Executive of NMDPRA, Engr. Farouk Ahmed

In a statement made available to Oracle Intelligence, Dangote Industries Limited confirmed that Dangote, through his legal representatives, filed a formal corruption petition at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja.

The petition, signed by Lead Counsel Dr. O.J. Onoja, SAN, calls on the EFCC, under its chairman Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, to investigate the allegations and prosecute Ahmed if found culpable.

According to the petition, a swift and decisive response from the commission would not only address the specific allegations but also serve as a deterrent to other public officers inclined toward corrupt practices.

Dangote’s move, the statement said, underscores his commitment to transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

The allegations date back to December 14, 2025, when Dangote publicly questioned Ahmed’s financial capacity, alleging that the former regulator lived far beyond his legitimate means. Dangote claimed that four of Ahmed’s children attended elite secondary schools in Switzerland, with education costs running into several millions of dollars.

The schools listed include Montreux School, Aiglon College, Institut Le Rosey, and La Garenne International School. Dangote alleged that each child spent six years in these institutions, estimating annual tuition, travel, and upkeep at about $200,000 per child. This, he said, amounted to roughly $5 million for secondary education alone.

Dangote further alleged that an additional $2 million was spent on the children’s tertiary education, including $210,000 for a 2025 Harvard MBA programme attended by Ahmed’s son, Faisal.

“Nigerians deserve to know the source of these funds,” Dangote was quoted as saying, “especially when many parents in Mr. Ahmed’s home state of Sokoto struggle to pay as little as ₦10,000 in school fees.”

The petition seeks a comprehensive investigation to restore public confidence in Nigeria’s regulatory institutions.

The statement also revealed that Dangote had earlier withdrawn a similar petition from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), describing the move as a strategic decision aimed at accelerating prosecution through the EFCC.

Citing previous court decisions, the petition noted that the EFCC and related agencies are well positioned to prosecute financial crimes once a prima facie case is established, referencing Lawan v. FRN (2024) and Shema v. FRN (2018) as precedents.