Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, has formally approached the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, with a petition seeking the investigation and prosecution of the Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, Ahmed Farouk, over allegations of corruption and abuse of office.
The petition, submitted on December 16 through Dangote’s legal counsel, Ogwu Onoja, SAN, urges the anti-graft agency to take Farouk into custody and probe claims that his lifestyle and spending patterns are grossly inconsistent with his earnings as a public official.
Addressed to the ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu, SAN, the petition alleges that Farouk expended more than seven million dollars on the education of his four children in Switzerland, with tuition paid in advance for a six-month period, despite having no lawful income capable of supporting such expenditure.
“That Engr Farouk Ahmed has grossly abused his office contrary to the extant provisions of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers and, in doing enmeshed himself in monumental corruption and unlawful spending of Public funds running into millions of dollars.
“That Engr Farouk Ahmed spent without evidence of lawful means of income humongous amount of money of over 7million dollars of Public funds, for the education of his four children in different schools in Switzerland for a period of six years upfront,” the petition read.
Dangote, it was learned, supplied the identities of the four children, the Swiss institutions they attend, and the specific sums allegedly paid for each, to enable the ICPC independently verify the claims.
The petition further accuses Farouk of exploiting the authority and resources of the NMDPRA to divert public funds for personal benefit and private interests, conduct Dangote said has contributed to growing public anger and protests by civil society groups.
According to Dangote, Farouk has spent his entire professional career within the Nigerian public service and could not, based on legitimate salaries and allowances, have amassed anywhere near the funds allegedly used to finance his children’s overseas education.
“It is without doubt that the above facts in relation to abuse of office, breach of the Code of Conduct for public officers, corrupt enrichment and embezzlement are gross acts of corrupt practices for which your Commission is statutorily empowered under Section 19 of the ICPC Act to investigate and prosecute,” Dangote said.
He also noted that a successful prosecution under the relevant provision of the ICPC Act carries a mandatory five-year prison sentence without the option of a fine.
The petition further states, “That Engr Farouk Ahmed has corruptly enriched himself with taxpayers’ money meant for public consumption and diverted it into private uses.
“Any Public officer who uses his office or position to gratify or confer any corrupt or unfair advantage upon himself or any relation or associate of the public officer or any other public officer shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for five(5) years without option of fine.”
Dangote expressed confidence in the ICPC’s ability, in collaboration with other anti-corruption agencies, to pursue financial crime cases effectively once sufficient evidence is established.
He therefore called on the Commission to promptly investigate the allegations and initiate prosecution if Farouk is found culpable, noting that the matter has already attracted significant public attention.
The petition also argues that firm action by the ICPC would reinforce accountability and help safeguard the reputation of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Dangote pledged to make available documentary and other evidence to support his claims of corrupt enrichment, abuse of office and impunity against the NMDPRA chief.
The allegations follow comments Dangote made during a press briefing in Lagos on Sunday, December 14, where he accused the petroleum regulator of regulatory lapses and corruption within the downstream sector, warning that unresolved allegations would continue to erode public trust and investor confidence.
In June, similar accusations were levelled against Farouk by protesters in Abuja, who marched to the offices of the Attorney General of the Federation, the Code of Conduct Bureau and the ICPC, demanding his resignation and alleging that he had converted his office into a personal domain.
The NMDPRA has, however, rejected all the claims, insisting they are part of a coordinated smear campaign built on falsehoods aimed at discrediting the Chief Executive Officer and his leadership.
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