Aliko Dangote, chairman of Dangote Group, has submitted a petition against Ahmed Farouk, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), over “corruption and financial impropriety”.
In the petition, dated December 16 and sent to the commission by Ogwu Onoja, senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dangote’s lawyer, the entrepreneur called for Ahmed’s arrest, investigation, and prosecution, accusing him of “living beyond his means” as a public official.
The petition, received by Musa Aliyu, head of the ICPC, alleges that the NMDPRA boss spent more than “$7 million on the education of his four children” in various schools in Switzerland over a six-year period, without evidence of lawful income to justify such expenses.
Dangote listed the names of the four children, their schools in Switzerland, and the amounts paid for each, to support his claims and aid verification by the anti-graft agency.
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He further alleged that Ahmed used his position at the NMDPRA to “embezzle and divert public funds” for personal benefit and private interests — actions which he claimed sparked recent protests and public outrage by various groups.
According to Dangote, Ahmed has spent his entire adult life working in Nigeria’s public sector, and his cumulative earnings over the years “could not have amounted to $7 million”.
The billionaire also alleged that the funds were diverted from public coffers to finance the overseas education of Farouk’s teenage children.
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“It is without doubt that the above facts in relation to abuse of office, breach of Code of Conduct for public officers, Corrupt enrichment, embezzlement are gross Act of corrupt practices for which your Commission (ICPC) is statutorily empowered under section 19, of the ICPC Act to investigate and prosecute,” Dangote said
“Upon a successful prosecution of such a person, under section 19, of the ICPC Act, the person is liable to imprisonment for five years without an option of fine.”
He said the ICPC, working alongside sister agencies, is strategically positioned to prosecute financial crimes and other corruption-related offences.
Dangote added that once a prima facie case is established, the courts do not hesitate to punish offenders.
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“In view of the above, we call on the Commission under your leadership to investigate the complain of abuse of office and corruption against Engr Farouk Ahmed and to accordingly, prosecute him if found wanting,” he said.
“We have no reservation that being a matter that is in the public domain, the Commission will not close its eyes to it but act decisively to ensure that justice is done and the good image of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is protected.”
Dangote promised to be available to proffer evidence in proof of his allegations of corrupt enrichment and abuse of office against Ahmed.
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