The Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has escalated his dispute with the former head of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority by filing a formal corruption petition at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Farouk Ahmed.
The petition, submitted through Dangote’s legal representatives, alleges abuse of office and corrupt practices during Ahmed’s tenure as Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). It urges the EFCC to investigate specific regulatory decisions, financial transactions, and asset acquisitions allegedly linked to the former regulator.
The EFCC petition comes weeks after Dangote had earlier approached the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) with similar allegations. Open-source reports indicate that Dangote’s legal team later informed the ICPC of its decision to withdraw the petition to allow another law-enforcement agency take over the matter, although the ICPC has maintained that it retains the discretion to continue any ongoing inquiry.
The controversy, widely dubbed “Faroukgate” in policy and media circles, is rooted in a broader confrontation between Dangote’s refining interests and regulatory policies governing fuel imports and pricing. Dangote has repeatedly argued in public forums that certain downstream regulatory actions favoured continued importation of petroleum products at the expense of local refining, undermining investments such as the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
Farouk Ahmed, who resigned from office amid the growing controversy, has denied all allegations of wrongdoing. In previous public statements, he insisted that his actions as NMDPRA chief were lawful and in line with existing regulations, and said he was willing to subject himself to investigation by relevant anti-graft agencies.
With the petition now before the EFCC, attention turns to whether the commission will open a full investigation, summon parties for questioning, and possibly trace assets linked to the allegations. Analysts say the outcome could have significant implications not only for the individuals involved but also for regulatory credibility and investor confidence in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.
As of the time of filing this report, the EFCC had not issued an official statement confirming receipt or outlining next steps on the petition.
Abuja Network News
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