The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced an investigation into a petition filed by Aliko Dangote, Chairman of Dangote Industries, against Farouk Ahmed, former Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), over allegations of abuse of office and unlawful expenditure of public funds.
An EFCC source revealed that the investigation would involve extensive local and international inquiries, including correspondence with a secondary school in Switzerland where Ahmed’s children are allegedly enrolled.
The petition accuses Ahmed of spending about $7 million on the education of his children abroad, an amount Dangote alleged could not be justified by the former regulator’s lawful earnings.
The allegations were first raised in December 2025 when Dangote submitted a petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), accusing Ahmed of violating the Code of Conduct for Public Officers.
Dangote alleged that the funds used for the children’s education were unlawfully sourced and linked to Ahmed’s position in public office.
However, in a letter dated January 5, 2026, Dangote, through his lawyer, formally withdrew the petition from the ICPC.
Despite the withdrawal, the ICPC announced that it would continue to examine the matter, citing Sections 3(14) and 27(3) of its enabling Act, which empower the commission to investigate allegations of corruption once they have been brought to its attention.
The matter resurfaced publicly on July 6 when the Dangote Group media team disclosed that Dangote, through his legal representative, had submitted a fresh petition to the EFCC, requesting a thorough probe of the allegations against Ahmed.
