By Yemi Oyeyemi, Abuja
Chairman of the Dangote Group, Dr Aliko Dangote, has formally petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged corruption and financial impropriety by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr Farouk Ahmed.
The petition, dated December 16, was submitted through Dangote’s legal counsel, Dr Ogwu James Onoja (SAN), and received by the office of the ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN). In the petition, Dangote called for the arrest, investigation and prosecution of the NMDPRA chief, alleging that Ahmed has been living far above his lawful means as a public servant.
According to the petition, Dangote accused Ahmed of spending in excess of 7 million US dollars on the education of his four children in Switzerland over a six-year period, allegedly without any verifiable lawful source of income to justify such expenditure. The petition reportedly detailed the names of the children, the schools they attended, and the amounts paid for each, urging the anti-graft agency to verify the claims.
Dangote further alleged that Ahmed had been using his position at the NMDPRA to embezzle and divert public funds for personal gain and the pursuit of private interests, actions which he claimed had triggered public outrage and protests by various groups in recent times.
The industrialist maintained that Ahmed had spent his entire working life in Nigeria’s public sector and that his cumulative legitimate earnings could not reasonably amount to the alleged 7 million dollars said to have been expended on the overseas education of his children.
“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 constitute gross acts of corrupt practices for which your Commission is statutorily empowered under Section 19 of the ICPC Act to investigate and prosecute,” Dangote stated in the petition.
He added that upon successful prosecution under the Act, an offender is liable to a five-year term of imprisonment without an option of fine.
Dangote also expressed confidence in the ICPC’s mandate and capacity to tackle corruption, noting that the commission, alongside sister agencies, is strategically positioned to prosecute financial crimes and related offences.
“In view of the above, we call on the Commission under your leadership to investigate the complaint of abuse of office and corruption against Engr Farouk Ahmed and accordingly prosecute him if found wanting,” the petition read.
He further urged the commission to act decisively in the matter, describing it as one already in the public domain, and stressed the need to protect the image of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Dangote pledged his readiness to present evidence to substantiate his allegations of corrupt enrichment, abuse of office and impunity against the NMDPRA managing director as investigations commence.
