Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), alleging corruption, abuse of office and financial misconduct against the Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Ahmed Farouk.
In the petition dated December 16 and addressed to the ICPC Chairman, Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), Dangote called for the arrest, investigation and prosecution of Farouk, whom he accused of allegedly living far beyond his legitimate earnings as a public servant.
According to the petition, Dangote alleged that Farouk spent more than $7 million on six years of upfront tuition fees for his four children at different schools in Switzerland, without any verifiable lawful income to justify the expenditure.
Dangote reportedly named the children and the schools involved in the petition, providing a breakdown of the fees paid to aid verification by the anti-graft agency.
He further alleged that Farouk abused his position at the NMDPRA to embezzle and divert public funds for personal use, actions he claimed were detrimental to Nigerians and had triggered public outcry and protests by various groups.
Dangote argued that Farouk, having spent most of his adult life in Nigeria’s public sector, could not have legitimately earned an income commensurate with the alleged $7 million expenditure on foreign 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 amount to gross acts of corrupt practices,” Dangote said in the petition, noting that the ICPC is empowered under Section 19 of its Act to investigate and prosecute such offences.
He added that a successful prosecution under the Act attracts a five-year jail term without an option of fine, urging the Commission to act decisively in the matter.
“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 to accordingly prosecute him if found wanting,” the petition read.
Dangote expressed confidence that the ICPC would not ignore the allegations, stressing that decisive action would help safeguard public trust and protect the image of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
He also pledged to provide evidence to support his claims and to cooperate fully with investigators throughout the process.
