Aliko Dangote, Chairman of Dangote Industries, filed a formal corruption petition against Farouk Ahmed, former Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s headquarters.
This was stated in a statement provided to our correspondent by the Dangote Group media staff on Friday.
Dangote previously petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to probe Ahmed for reportedly spending $5 million on his children’s secondary school in Switzerland.
He withdrew the petition a few days ago, despite the ICPC’s promise to continue its probe.
The statement on Friday stated that Dangote’s petition to the EFCC followed “the withdrawal of the same petition from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, a strategic decision aimed at accelerating the prosecution process.”
In the appeal, signed by Lead Counsel Dr. O.J. Onoja, Dangote sought the EFCC to examine charges of abuse of power and corrupt enrichment against Ahmed and prosecute him if found guilty.
The petition further alleged that Dangote would give proof to support charges of financial malfeasance and impunity.
“We make bold to state that the commission is strategically positioned, along with sister agencies, to prosecute financial crimes and corruption-related offenses, and upon establishing a prima facie case, the courts do not hesitate to punish offenders. See Lawan v. F.R.N. (2024) 12 NWLR (Pt. 1953) 501 and Shema v. F.R.N. (2018) 9 NWLR (Pt. 1624) 337,” the petition read.
Onoja also urged the commission, under the leadership of Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, “to investigate the complaint of abuse of office and corruption against Engr. Farouk Ahmed and to accordingly prosecute him if found wanting.”
