Why I filed new petition against ex-NMDPRA boss at EFCC – Dangote

The Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Aliko Dangote, has explained why he dragged former Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after withdrawing his earlier petition against him from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC),

While disclosing this in a statement on Friday, Dangote said the filing of the new petition was strategic and aimed at expediting prosecution of Ahmed.

The statement also confirmed that the petition was submitted through Dangote’s legal team, following the withdrawal of an earlier petition submitted to the ICPC against Ahmed.

“We make bold to state that the commission is strategically positioned, along with sister agencies, to prosecute financial crimes and corruption-related offences, and upon establishing a prima facie case, the courts do not hesitate to punish offenders,” the petition stated, citing Lawan v. F.R.N (2024) 12 NWLR (Pt. 1953) 501 and Shema v. F.R.N. (2018) 9 NWLR (Pt. 1624) 337.

Dangote further called on the EFCC, under the leadership of its chairman, Ola Olukoyede, “to investigate the complaint of abuse of office and corruption against Engr. Farouk Ahmed and to accordingly prosecute him if found wanting”.

The petition also stressed that a swift handling of the matter “is not only imperative and expedient but will also serve as a deterrent to other public officers with such corrupt proneness and tendencies”.

The petition to the anti-graft agencies followed allegations by Dangote that Ahmed was living beyond his means as a public official.

The billionaire businessman claimed that Ahmed is spending millions of dollars on the education of his children in Switzerland in the petition.

However, the former NMDPRA boss denied the allegations, describing them as “wild and spurious”.

However, ICPC had in a statement rejected Dangote’s request to withdraw his petition against the former NMDPRA boss.

ICPC Spokesperson, John Odey, who said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, noted that the commission had already commenced investigations into the allegation in the interest of Nigerians.

“The ICPC will therefore continue to investigate this matter in line with its statutory mandate and in the interest of transparency, accountability and the fight against corruption for the benefit of Nigeria.”

He said that the commission received a letter dated Jan. 5, titled “Notice of Withdrawal of Petition against Engineer Farouk Ahmed,” signed by Dr O.J. Onoja, SAN and Associates, legal counsel to Dangote.

”The letter from O.J. Onoja SAN, states that the petitioner has withdrawn the petition dated 16th December, 2025, submitted against Engineer Farouk Ahmed, the immediate past ACE/CEO of the NMDPRA in its entirety and that another law enforcement agency has taken over.

”The ICPC wishes to state categorically that in line with the provisions of sections 3(14) and 27(3) of its enabling Act, the investigations in the interest of the Nigerian people and the Nigerian state have already commenced and are presently ongoing.

”The ICPC will therefore continue to investigate this matter in line with its statutory mandate and in the interest of transparency, accountability and the fight against corruption for the benefit of Nigeria.”