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From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged corruption and financial impropriety against the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Ahmed Farouk.
In the petition dated December 16 and written by his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja (SAN), Dangote called for the arrest, investigation and prosecution of Farouk, accusing him of “living beyond his means” as a public officer.
The petition, which was received by the ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu (SAN), alleged that the NMDPRA boss spent more than $7 million on the education of his four children in Switzerland over a six-year period, without any lawful income to justify such expenditure.
Dangote, in the petition, listed the names of the four children, the Swiss schools they attended and the amounts allegedly paid for each, urging the anti-graft agency to verify the claims.
He further alleged that Farouk abused his office at the NMDPRA to “embezzle and divert public funds” for personal use and private interests, actions which he said had triggered recent protests and public outrage by various groups.
According to Dangote, Farouk had spent his entire adult life in Nigeria’s public sector, insisting that his total earnings over the years “could not have amounted to $7 million”.
The billionaire businessman also alleged that public funds were diverted from government coffers to finance the foreign education of Farouk’s teenage children.
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“It is without doubt that the above facts in relation to abuse of office, breach of Code of Conduct for public officers, corrupt enrichment, embezzlement are gross act of corrupt practices for which your Commission (ICPC) is statutorily empowered under section 19 of the ICPC Act to investigate and prosecute,” Dangote said.
“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.”
He noted that the ICPC, working with other sister agencies, is well positioned to tackle financial crimes and corruption-related offences, adding that once a prima facie case is established, 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 accordingly prosecute him 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,” he said.
Dangote also assured the Commission of his readiness to make himself available to provide evidence in support of his allegations of corrupt enrichment and abuse of office against the NMDPRA boss.
