- Safiu Kehinde
Nigerian billionaire businessman and chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has filed fresh corruption petition against former Managing Director of the Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed.
This is coming days after Dangote’s request for the withdrawal of same petition filed before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) was rejected by the commission.
While the businessman was reported to have demanded the withdrawal of the petition from the ICPC over observed delay in prosecution process, Dangote on Friday filed fresh petition before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
As contained in the petition signed by his lead Counsel, Dr. O.J. Onoja (SAN), Dangote urged the EFCC to probe allegations of abuse of office and corrupt enrichment against Ahmed and prosecute him if found guilty.
He vowed to provide evidence to support claims of financial misconduct.
The businessman’s counsel, Onoja, emphasized that the EFCC, working alongside other relevant agencies, is well-positioned to investigate and prosecute financial crimes.
He cited recent case law highlighting the judiciary’s readiness to punish offenders once a prima facie case is established.
The counsel added that swift action on the complaint would serve as a deterrent to other public officials with corrupt tendencies.
NPO Reported that Dangote had last month demanded probe into Ahmed’s financial activities as he accused the ex-NMDPRA boss of spending $5 million on the secondary school education of his four children attending elite Swiss schools.
Dangote questioned the source of such funds as he called for a thorough investigation to ensure accountability and strengthen public trust in Nigeria’s oil and gas regulatory institutions.
Ahmed had in the course of the allegation tendered his resignation from his role and had since been replaced by President Bola Tinubu.