Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has submitted a petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against the Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Ahmed Farouk, alleging corruption and financial impropriety.
The petition, dated December 16, was received by the office of the ICPC Chairman, Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN). In it, Dangote called for the arrest, investigation and prosecution of Farouk over claims that he has been living above his lawful means as a public servant.
Dangote alleged that the NMDPRA boss spent more than $7 million, without evidence of legitimate income, on the education of his four children in various schools in Switzerland, paying the fees upfront for a six-year period.
“It is without doubt that the above facts in relation to abuse of office, breach of the Code of Conduct for public officers and corrupt enrichment are acts of corrupt practices which your commission is statutorily empowered to investigate and prosecute,” Dangote said.
According to the petition, details of the children, their respective schools and the amounts allegedly paid were provided to enable verification by the anti-graft agency.
Dangote further accused Farouk of using his position at the NMDPRA to embezzle and divert public funds for personal gain, actions he claimed contributed to recent public protests and unrest by various groups.
The petition also argued that Farouk has spent his entire working life in Nigeria’s public sector and that his total legitimate earnings could not reasonably amount to the alleged $7 million used to fund his children’s education abroad.
Dangote urged the ICPC to act decisively on the allegations, stressing that the commission is empowered under the ICPC Act to investigate and prosecute cases of abuse of office, corrupt enrichment and embezzlement.
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