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Aliko Dangote, chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, has submitted a corruption petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission accusing Farouk Ahmed, the former head of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, of abuse of office and corrupt enrichment.
The filing was made through Dangote’s lawyer and follows the withdrawal of an earlier petition sent to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission. Dangote’s team said the shift to the EFCC is intended to speed up the process and ensure the allegations are handled promptly.
In the petition signed by lead counsel Dr. O.J. Onoja, SAN, Dangote asked the EFCC to open an investigation into Ahmed’s conduct while in public office and to prosecute if investigators find sufficient evidence. The petition says Dangote is prepared to provide documents and other materials to support the claims, which it describes as financial misconduct and impunity.
In one section, Onoja argued that the commission is well placed, alongside other agencies, to pursue financial crimes and corruption cases. He cited past court decisions, including Lawan v. F.R.N (2024) 12 NWLR (Pt. 1953) 501 and Shema v. F.R.N (2018) 9 NWLR (Pt. 1624) 337, as examples of how courts have treated corruption matters when a prima facie case is established.
Onoja also appealed directly to the EFCC chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede, urging the agency to investigate the allegations against Ahmed and take further steps if he is found culpable.
The petition adds that swift action would not only be necessary and expedient, but could also discourage other public officers who may be tempted to engage in corrupt practices.
Dangote’s petition renews accusations he first raised publicly on Dec. 14, 2025, when he questioned Ahmed’s finances and alleged that the former regulator was living far beyond his legitimate means. Dangote’s complaint centers on the cost of overseas schooling for Ahmed’s children, which it says runs into several million dollars and raises questions about conflicts of interest and the integrity of regulatory oversight in the downstream petroleum sector.
The petition lists the schools attended by the children as Montreux School, Aiglon College, Institut Le Rosey and La Garenne International School. It says each child spent six years in those institutions and estimates annual tuition, travel and upkeep at about $200,000 per child, putting the total for secondary education at roughly $5 million.
Dangote also alleged that a further $2 million was spent on university education for the four children, including $210,000 for a 2025 Harvard MBA program for Faisal.
“Nigerians deserve to know the source of these funds, especially when many parents in Mr. Ahmed’s home state of Sokoto struggle to pay as little as N10,000 in school fees,” Dangote said.
The petition calls for a thorough investigation, saying accountability is needed to rebuild public confidence in Nigeria’s regulatory institutions.
