Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), seeking an investigation into alleged corruption and financial impropriety by the managing director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed.
In the petition dated December 16 and addressed to the ICPC chairman, Musa Adamu Aliyu, Dangote accused the regulator’s chief executive of living far beyond his legitimate earnings as a public officer and asked the anti-graft agency to arrest, investigate and prosecute him if the allegations are established.
Central to the petition is a claim that Ahmed spent more than $7 million over six years to pay upfront for the education of his four children at different schools in Switzerland. Dangote alleged that there is no evidence that the NMDPRA boss has any lawful source of income that could support such expenditure.
In the petition, Dangote listed the names of the children, the Swiss schools they attended and the amounts allegedly paid for each, urging the ICPC to verify the details as part of its investigation.
The Dangote Group chairman further alleged that Ahmed had used his position at the NMDPRA to divert and misappropriate public funds for personal benefit and private interests, actions he claimed had contributed to recent public discontent and protests involving stakeholders in the downstream petroleum sector.
Dangote argued that Ahmed had spent his entire adult working life in Nigeria’s public sector and that his cumulative earnings could not reasonably amount to the sum allegedly spent on overseas education for his children.
“It is without a doubt that the above facts in relation to abuse of office, breach of the code of conduct for public officers, corrupt enrichment and embezzlement constitute gross acts of corrupt practices,” Dangote said in the petition, citing section 19 of the ICPC Act, which empowers the commission to investigate and prosecute such offences.
He noted that a conviction under the relevant provision carries a jail term of up to five years without an option of fine, and urged the commission to act decisively if a prima facie case is established.
Dangote also said he was prepared to provide documentary and other evidence to support his claims during the course of any investigation.
The petition added that, given the public interest surrounding the allegations, the ICPC should act promptly to ensure accountability and safeguard public confidence in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
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