- According to the document, Dangote expressed readiness to submit documents and other materials to support the claims
- the company confirmed that the new petition followed the withdrawal from the ICPC
- Dangote had previously accused Ahmed of allegedly expending about $5 million on his children’s secondary education in Switzerland
Aliko Dangote has escalated his corruption allegations against a former top petroleum regulator by submitting a fresh petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, accusing Farouk Ahmed, the immediate past Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, of abuse of office and illicit enrichment.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the petition was filed through Dangote’s legal team at the EFCC headquarters after the billionaire businessman withdrew a similar complaint earlier lodged with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, a move described as a calculated step to hasten legal action.
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In a statement released on Friday by the Dangote Group, the company confirmed that the new petition followed the withdrawal from the ICPC, even though the anti-graft agency had indicated it would continue its probe into the matter independently.
Dangote had previously accused Ahmed of allegedly expending about $5 million on his children’s secondary education in Switzerland, an allegation that triggered public debate before the matter was redirected to the EFCC.
The petition to the EFCC, signed by lead counsel Dr O.J. Onoja, calls for a comprehensive investigation into claims of official misconduct, corruption and unexplained wealth, urging the commission to pursue prosecution if the allegations are substantiated.
According to the document, Dangote expressed readiness to submit documents and other materials to support the claims, insisting that the allegations were serious enough to warrant full criminal scrutiny.
The legal team further noted that the EFCC, working alongside other relevant agencies, has both the mandate and institutional capacity to investigate and prosecute high-profile financial crimes, citing recent judicial precedents where public officials were convicted for similar offences.
Dr Onoja specifically appealed to the EFCC leadership under its current chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede, to ensure that the matter is thoroughly examined and that appropriate legal action is taken should a prima facie case be established.
The development marks a new phase in the high-stakes legal confrontation, as attention now shifts to how the EFCC will handle the allegations involving one of Nigeria’s former key figures in the petroleum regulatory space.
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