Alleged Corruption: Dangote Submits Petition Against NMDPRA MD To ICPC
The Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has formally submitted his petition against the Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, Ahmed Farouk, to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.
Dangot in the petition accused Farouk of corruption and financial impropriety.
In the petition submitted on December 16, through his lawyer, James Onoja, SAN, Dangote demanded the arrest, investigation and prosecution of Ahmed for allegedly living above his means as a public servant.
The petition was received by the office of the Chairman of the ICPC, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN.
The Dangote Group chairman specifically accused the NMDPRA boss of spending, without evidence of lawful means of income, sums amounting to over 7 million USD on the education of his four children in different schools in Switzerland for a period of six years upfront.
Dangote, in the petition, named the four children and their schools in Switzerland, including the amount paid for each of them, to establish his allegations.
He alleged that Farouk Ahmed was using the instrumentality of the NMDPRA to embezzle and divert public funds for self gains and pursuit of private interest to the detriment of the Nigerian people, which orchestrated uproar and protest by different groups recently.
The billionaire businessman claimed that Farouk Ahmed, throughout his lifetime as an adult, worked in the public sector in Nigeria and that the totality of his earnings over the years was nothing close to 7 million USD, allegedly diverted from the public coffers to pay for the education of his teenage children abroad.
Parts of the petition read, “It is without doubt that the above facts in relation to abuse of office, breach of Code of Conduct for public officers, Corrupt enrichment, and embezzlement are gross acts of corrupt practices for which your Commission (ICPC) is statutorily empowered under section 19, of the ICPC Act to investigate and prosecute.
“Upon a successful prosecution of such a person, under section 19, of the ICPC Act, the person is liable to imprisonment for five years without an option of fine.
“We make bold to state that the ICPC is strategically positioned along the sister agencies to prosecute financial crimes and other corruption-related offences, and upon establishing a prima facie case, the Courts do not hesitate to punish offenders.
“In view of the above, we call on the Commission under your leadership to investigate the complaint of abuse of office and corruption against Engr Farouk Ahmed and to prosecute him accordingly if found wanting.
“We have no reservation that, being a matter that is in the public domain, the Commission will not close its eyes to it but act decisively to ensure that justice is done and the good image of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is protected.”
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
