The Chairman of Dangote Industries, Aliko Dangote, has submitted a formal corruption petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, against Farouk Ahmed, the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, through his legal counsel.

The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Friday by the Dangote Group’s media team.

The petition follows an earlier complaint filed by Dangote with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, in which Ahmed was accused of spending about $5 million on his children’s secondary education in Switzerland.

Although Dangote subsequently withdrew that petition, the ICPC had announced it would proceed with its investigation.

The statement on Friday said Dangote’s petition to the EFCC followed “The withdrawal of the same petition from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, a strategic decision aimed at accelerating the prosecution process.”

In the petition, signed by lead counsel Dr O.J. Onoja, Dangote called on the EFCC to investigate allegations of abuse of office and corrupt enrichment against Ahmed, and to prosecute him if the claims are established.

It also stated that Dangote is prepared to provide evidence to support the allegations of financial misconduct and impunity.

“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. See Lawan v. F.R.N (2024) 12 NWLR (Pt. 1953) 501 and Shema v. F.R.N. (2018) 9 NWLR (Pt.1624) 337,” the petition read.

Onoja further urged the commission, under the leadership of Mr Olanipekun Olukoyede, “To investigate the complaint of abuse of office and corruption against Engr. Farouk Ahmed and to accordingly prosecute him if found wanting.”