The Chairman of Dangote Industries, Aliko Dangote, has filed a formal corruption petition against the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The development was disclosed in a statement released on Friday by the Dangote Group media team, which said the petition followed the withdrawal of an earlier complaint submitted to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Dangote had accused Ahmed of corrupt enrichment, including the alleged expenditure of $5 million on his children’s secondary education in Switzerland, claims the ICPC said it would continue to investigate despite the withdrawal.
In the petition signed by Dangote’s lead counsel, Dr O.J. Onoja, the businessman urged the EFCC to investigate allegations of abuse of office and corruption against Ahmed and to prosecute him if found culpable.
The petition stated that the decision to approach the EFCC was “The withdrawal of the same petition from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, a strategic decision aimed at accelerating the prosecution process.” It added: “We make bold to state that the commission is strategically positioned, along with sister agencies, to prosecute financial crimes and corruption-related offences, and upon establishing a prima facie case, the courts do not hesitate to punish offenders,” while further urging the EFCC leadership “To investigate the complaint of abuse of office and corruption against Engr. Farouk Ahmed and to accordingly prosecute him if found wanting.”