Chairman of Dangote Industries, Aliko Dangote, has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged corruption involving the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed.
The development was disclosed on Friday in a statement issued by the Dangote Group’s media office.
According to the statement, the petition submitted to the EFCC follows the company’s earlier complaint to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which accused Ahmed of spending about $5 million on his children’s secondary education in Switzerland.
Dangote Industries had withdrawn the petition from the ICPC a few days ago, although the anti-graft agency stated at the time that it would continue its investigation into the matter.
Explaining the latest move, the company said the decision to approach the EFCC was strategic and aimed at fast-tracking the prosecution process.
“The withdrawal of the same petition from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission was a strategic decision aimed at accelerating the prosecution process,” the statement said.
In the petition addressed to the EFCC and signed by lead counsel, Dr O. J. Onoja, Dangote urged the commission to investigate allegations of abuse of office and illicit enrichment levelled against Ahmed.
The petition further called on the EFCC to prosecute the former regulator if investigations establish that he is culpable.
