Africa’s richest businessman, Aliko Dangote, has taken a dramatic legal step in Nigeria’s long-running battle against corruption, filing a formal petition with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Farouk Ahmed, the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The petition, submitted through Dangote’s legal team, accuses the former regulator of abuse of office and corrupt enrichment and calls on Nigeria’s top anti-graft agency to investigate the allegations and prosecute Ahmed if a prima facie case is established.
The development underscores the growing tension between powerful private-sector actors and public institutions in Africa’s largest economy, particularly at a time when Nigeria is undergoing deep reforms in its oil and gas sector under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
According to a statement released by the Dangote Group’s media office on Friday, the petition was formally lodged at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja following the withdrawal of an earlier complaint submitted to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Dangote had previously asked the ICPC to investigate allegations that Ahmed spent approximately $5 million on his children’s secondary education in Switzerland an expenditure the petition claimed was inconsistent with his known earnings as a public official. Although Dangote withdrew that petition, the ICPC said it would continue its inquiry independently.
The Dangote Group said the move to the EFCC was a strategic decision aimed at accelerating the investigation and possible prosecution, given the commission’s mandate and track record in handling high-profile financial crimes.
The EFCC petition was signed by Dangote’s lead counsel, Dr. O.J. Onoja, who urged the commission to probe the allegations thoroughly. The petition stated that Dangote is prepared to provide evidence to support claims of financial misconduct, abuse of office, 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,” the petition said, citing recent Nigerian court judgments to emphasize that the judiciary has increasingly demonstrated willingness to sanction corrupt public officials.
The case has attracted widespread attention across Nigeria and beyond, reflecting broader African concerns about governance, regulatory capture, and accountability in strategic sectors such as energy and natural resources. Across the continent, oil and gas regulators wield significant influence over licensing, pricing frameworks, and investment approvals—powers that have often placed them at the centre of corruption allegations.
Ahmed, who previously headed the NMDPRA, oversaw a key institution created under the PIA to bring transparency and efficiency to Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum operations. His tenure coincided with major changes in fuel pricing, deregulation debates, and heightened scrutiny of industry regulators.
As of Friday, neither Ahmed nor his legal representatives had publicly responded to the EFCC petition. The EFCC has also not issued an official statement confirming receipt of the complaint or outlining the next steps.
For many observers, the case highlights a recurring African dilemma: the intersection of powerful business interests, weak institutions, and the struggle to enforce accountability at the highest levels of public service. It also raises questions about the role of anti-corruption agencies in navigating politically and economically sensitive cases involving elite actors.
If the EFCC proceeds with a full investigation, the outcome could carry significant implications for public confidence in Nigeria’s regulatory system and for broader efforts across Africa to strengthen governance in extractive industries.
For now, the petition marks a new chapter in a dispute that has moved from regulatory disagreement into the realm of criminal accountability—an arena where outcomes are closely watched by citizens, investors, and reform advocates across the continent.
