Nigeria’s business and anti-corruption landscape took another dramatic turn as billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote formally petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate alleged corruption involving Farouk Ahmed, the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). 

The move marks a significant escalation in a high-profile dispute that has drawn public attention to issues of regulatory integrity, corruption accountability, and the workings of Nigeria’s top anti-graft institutions. Dangote, chairman of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), filed the petition with the EFCC through his legal team led by Dr. O.J. Onoja SAN, urging a thorough probe into allegations of abuse of office and corrupt enrichment against the former regulator. 

According to court documents cited in the petition, Dangote wants the EFCC to investigate Farouk Ahmed for allegedly living well beyond his lawful income and to prosecute him if the evidence proves the claims.  The petition specifies that Dangote is prepared to provide supporting evidence and legal arguments to bolster the case. 

This latest filing comes after Dangote withdrew an earlier petition he had submitted to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The decision to shift the matter to the EFCC was described as a strategic step aimed at accelerating the prosecution process and allowing a different law enforcement agency to take the lead. 

Dangote’s allegations date back to a statement he made publicly in December 2025, where he raised concerns about Farouk Ahmed’s reported financial activities. In his earlier remarks, Dangote noted that Ahmed’s children were enrolled in some of Europe’s most expensive schools, including elite institutions in Switzerland, with estimated total costs exceeding $5 million for secondary education and $2 million for tertiary schooling, including a Harvard MBA program. 

The petition asserts that such lavish spending by a former public official raises serious questions about financial conduct and the integrity of regulatory oversight in Nigeria’s critical oil and gas sector. Dangote made clear in his submission that Nigerians deserve transparency and accountability, especially when public trust and resources are implicated. 

The EFCC, under the leadership of Olanipekun Olukoyede, is now tasked with reviewing Dangote’s petition, assessing the evidence, and determining next steps in the investigation. Analysts say the case puts the spotlight on how Nigeria’s top anti-corruption agencies handle complaints involving powerful private sector figures and high-ranking public officials. 

Meanwhile, the ICPC has maintained that its own investigation into Farouk Ahmed remains ongoing despite Dangote’s withdrawal of the petition to that agency. According to a statement by ICPC’s spokesperson, investigations initiated in the public interest will continue in line with the commission’s statutory mandate. 

Public reaction has been swift, with commentators and citizens debating not only the merits of the allegations but also the procedural implications of moving the case from the ICPC to the EFCC. Some legal experts note that inter-agency coordination in corruption cases can be complex, and the involvement of both agencies underscores the seriousness of the claims. 

Farouk Ahmed resigned from his position as head of NMDPRA in late 2025 following the initial petition and meetings with senior government officials.  However, he has not been formally charged with any crime, and the current legal process will determine whether criminal proceedings will follow.

For now, the petition lodged by Dangote with the EFCC places renewed focus on the battle against corruption and the role of influential Nigerians in shaping accountability frameworks. With both the EFCC and ICPC involved in different aspects of the matter, many Nigerians will be watching closely to see how the investigation unfolds and what it could mean for broader governance reforms.