Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against the Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Ahmed Farouk, over alleged corruption and financial impropriety.
The petition, dated December 16 and addressed to the ICPC Chairman, Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), calls for Farouk’s arrest, investigation, and prosecution for allegedly living far beyond his lawful means as a public servant.
According to the petition, Dangote accused the NMDPRA boss of spending more than $7 million on the education of his four children in different schools in Switzerland over a six-year period, an amount he said could not be justified by Farouk’s earnings in public service.
Dangote reportedly named the four children and their respective schools in Switzerland, as well as the amounts paid for each, to enable the anti-graft agency verify the claims.
The petition further alleged that Farouk Ahmed used the instrumentality of the NMDPRA to embezzle and divert public funds for personal gain and private interests, actions which Dangote said contributed to recent public protests and unrest in the downstream petroleum sector.
Dangote argued that Farouk had spent his entire adult working life in Nigeria’s public sector and that his legitimate earnings could not account for the alleged expenditure on his children’s education abroad.
“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 corruption,” Dangote said, citing Section 19 of the ICPC Act.
He added that the offence carries a penalty of five years’ imprisonment without an option of fine upon conviction.
Dangote urged the ICPC to act decisively in investigating the allegations, stressing that the matter is already in the public domain and warning against inaction.
“We call on the Commission under your leadership to investigate the complaint of abuse of office and corruption against Engr. Farouk Ahmed and to prosecute him if found wanting,” the petition read.
Dangote also said he was ready to provide evidence to support his allegations and expressed confidence that a thorough investigation would help protect the image of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the ICPC nor the NMDPRA Managing Director has publicly responded to the petition.
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