The Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has filed a petition with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against the Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Ahmed Farouk, accusing him of corruption and financial misconduct.
Submitted on December 16, the petition calls for the arrest, investigation, and prosecution of Ahmed, alleging that he lived beyond his means as a public servant.
In the petition addressed to the ICPC Chairman, Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), Dangote specifically accused Farouk of spending over $7 million on the education of his four children in Swiss schools over six years, without any lawful source of income to justify such expenditure. He provided the names of the children, the schools they attended, and the amounts spent to support verification by the anti-graft agency.
Dangote further alleged that Farouk used his position at NMDPRA to embezzle and divert public funds for personal gain, an action that had recently triggered protests and public outcry.
According to the petition, Farouk’s entire career in the Nigerian public sector could not account for the $7 million allegedly spent, which Dangote claims were misappropriated from public coffers to fund his children’s overseas education.
Dangote stated, “It is without doubt that the above facts in relation to abuse of office, breach of Code of Conduct for public officers, corrupt enrichment, embezzlement are gross acts of corrupt practices for which your Commission (ICPC) is statutorily empowered under section 19, of the ICPC Act to investigate and prosecute.”
He added, “Upon a successful prosecution of such a person, under section 19 of the ICPC Act, the person is liable to imprisonment for five years without an option of fine. We call on the Commission under your leadership to investigate the complaint of abuse of office and corruption against Engr Farouk Ahmed and to prosecute him if found culpable.”
Dangote pledged to provide evidence to support his allegations of corrupt enrichment and abuse of office against Farouk Ahmed, emphasizing the need for decisive action to protect public trust and uphold the integrity of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.