Dangote Petitions EFCC Over Alleged Corruption by Ex-NMDPRA Boss Farouk Ahmed

Dangote Petitions EFCC Over Alleged Corruption by Ex-NMDPRA Boss Farouk Ahmed

On January 9, 2026, Aliko Dangote, Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), formally petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Engr. Farouk Ahmed, the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

Acting through his lead counsel, Dr. O.J. Onoja, SAN, Dangote accused Ahmed of abuse of office and corrupt enrichment, urging the EFCC to investigate and prosecute if the allegations are substantiated.

The petition followed Dangote’s withdrawal of an earlier complaint lodged with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). This move was described as strategic, aimed at expediting the prosecution process by placing the matter directly before the EFCC, which is widely regarded as Nigeria’s foremost anti-corruption agency.

Dangote’s counsel emphasized that the EFCC, under the leadership of Chairman Olanipekun Olukoyede, is well-positioned to handle financial crimes and corruption-related offences, citing precedents where Nigerian courts have punished offenders once a prima facie case was established.

Central to Dangote’s allegations are claims that Ahmed lived far beyond his lawful income during his tenure as NMDPRA boss. Dangote raised concerns about Ahmed’s financial profile, pointing to the extravagant education of his four children in elite Swiss schools, Montreux School, Aiglon College, Institut Le Rosey, and La Garenne International School. Each child reportedly spent six years in these institutions, with annual tuition, travel, and upkeep costs estimated at $200,000 per child.

Dangote calculated that the total secondary education expenses amounted to about $5 million, with an additional $2 million spent on tertiary education, including $210,000 for Faisal Ahmed’s Harvard MBA programme in 2025.

Dangote contrasted these expenditures with the struggles of ordinary Nigerians, particularly in Ahmed’s home state of Sokoto, where many parents find it difficult to pay ₦10,000 in school fees. He argued that Nigerians deserve to know the source of Ahmed’s wealth, especially given the sensitive role of regulatory oversight in the downstream petroleum sector.

The petition underscored the importance of transparency and accountability, stressing that swift action by the EFCC would not only ensure justice but also serve as a deterrent to other public officials prone to corruption.

This development highlights Dangote’s broader commitment to integrity within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. By pressing for a thorough investigation, he seeks to restore public confidence in regulatory institutions and reinforce the principle that no official should be above scrutiny.

The case now rests with the EFCC, whose handling of the matter will be closely watched as a test of Nigeria’s resolve to combat corruption at the highest levels of governance.