The president of Dangote Refinery and Group, Aliko Dangote, has filed a formal corruption petition against the chief executive officer of the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The latest move was a sequel to the withdrawal of the same petition from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
In the petition signed by Lead Counsel Dr. O.J. Onoja S.A.N., on behalf of Dangote, the richest man in Africa urged the EFCC to investigate allegations of abuse of office and corrupt enrichment against Mr. Ahmed and 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 offenses, and upon establishing a prima facie case, the courts do not hesitate to punish offenders. See Lawan v. F.R.N. (2024) 12 NWLR (Pt. 1953) 501 and Shema v. F.R.N. (2018) 9 NWLR (Pt. 1624) 337.”
Onoja further urged the commission to investigate the complaint of abuse of office and corruption against Engr. Farouk Ahmed and to accordingly prosecute him if found wanting.
The petition also stated that “the commission’s firm resolve in handling this matter with dispatch is not only imperative and expedient but will also serve as a deterrent to other public officers out there with such corrupt proneness and tendencies.”
Recall that in December 2025, Dangote petitioned Ahmed over the alleged claim that he paid over $5 million for his children’s foreign tuition fees.
But in a notice to ICPC dated 6 January, Dangote withdrew all allegations against Ahmed, but ICPC insisted on continuing the probe.
Meanwhile, Ahmed had denied the allegation, but his resignation was announced by a presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, on December 17th, 2025.
