Business mogul Aliko Dangote, Chairman of Dangote Group, has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate Engineer Farouk Ahmed, the immediate past Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), for alleged financial misconduct and corruption.
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In the petition addressed to EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, Dangote accused Ahmed of abuse of office, corrupt enrichment, and living beyond legitimate means.
“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 read, citing legal precedents including Lawan v. F.R.N (2024) and Shema v. F.R.N. (2018).
Dangote accused Ahmed of spending over $7 million on the education of his four children in Switzerland over a six-year period.
According to the petition, the children — Faisal Farouk (Montreux School), Farouk Jr. (Aiglon College), Ashraf Farouk (Institut Le Rosey), and Farhana Farouk (La Garenne International School) — attended prestigious Swiss institutions.
Dangote stated that these expenditures far exceeded what Ahmed could have earned legitimately as a career public servant.
In December 2025, Dangote had initially submitted a petition against Ahmed to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) through his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, SAN, alleging “corruption and financial impropriety.”
However, on January 7, 2026, Dangote withdrew his petition from the ICPC.
Fresh facts have emerged indicating that Dangote withdrew the petition due to concerns that the presence of Ahmed’s spouse as a key staff member of the ICPC could impact the investigation.
“What we understand,” a source said, “is that after the petition was filed, it came to light that Ahmed’s spouse holds a key position in ICPC. Although no one is sure how that might play out, there are concerns of interference.”
Although neither Dangote nor his lawyer could be reached to provide reasons for the withdrawal, sources suggested that fear of possible interference may have been the reason.
However, the ICPC has assured that no one can interfere in the ongoing investigation.
ICPC spokesperson, John Odey, said: “I am not aware of any person working in the ICPC who is married to Farouk. Even if it is true, I can assure you that nobody will interfere in the ongoing investigation. Dangote’s withdrawal of the petition does not mean that the ICPC has stopped the investigation. Investigation continues.”
It was gathered that the ICPC had contacted the Swiss school that Dangote claimed Farouk’s children attended and paid $7 million as school fees.
In an earlier statement, Odey noted: “The ICPC is in receipt of a letter dated January 5, 2025, titled ‘Notice of Withdrawal of Petition against Engineer Farouk Ahmed,’ submitted to the Commission by Dr O.J. Onoja, SAN and Associates, legal counsel to Alhaji Aliko Dangote.
“The letter states that the petitioner has withdrawn the petition dated 16th December, 2025, submitted against Engineer Farouk Ahmed 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.”
An acknowledgement copy of the letter dated December 17, 2025, addressed to the EFCC chairman was duly received by the commission.
When EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale was contacted, he requested time to gather more information. He has yet to respond at the time of this report.
The Principal Partner of an Abuja-based law firm, O’J Law Consult, Dr. Lilian Ojimma, said a petitioner is free to withdraw his petition from a prosecuting agency and go to another agency if he so wishes.
“The only thing,” she said, “is that the petitioner cannot file the same petition in two agencies at the same time and pursue them simultaneously.”
On December 17, 2025, Ahmed tendered his resignation after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu amid the controversy surrounding the allegations.
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