Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over allegations of corruption and abuse of office levelled against a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed.
The development was confirmed on Friday in a statement issued by the Dangote Group, which said the petition was formally submitted to the anti-graft agency following the withdrawal of an earlier complaint lodged with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
According to the company, the decision to approach the EFCC was a calculated move aimed at expediting the investigation and possible prosecution process, in line with established anti-corruption procedures.
The petition, signed by Dangote’s lead counsel, Dr O.J. Onoja (SAN), urged the EFCC to probe allegations bordering on abuse of office and illicit enrichment during Ahmed’s tenure at the petroleum regulatory authority. It specifically referenced claims that about $5m was allegedly expended on the secondary education of Ahmed’s children in Switzerland.
Dangote Industries had previously drawn the attention of the ICPC to the matter but withdrew the petition earlier in the week, a move that did not deter the commission from insisting that its investigation would continue.
In its latest submission to the EFCC, the conglomerate called for a thorough, transparent probe and the prosecution of the former NMDPRA chief if found culpable, stressing the need to uphold accountability in public office.
