“Investigate, prosecute him,” Dangote demands in petition against NMDPRA boss to ICPC

Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the chairman of Dangote group continued his battle against the Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Ahmed Farouk on Tuesday with submission of petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Dangote accused Ahmed Farouk of corruption and financial malady in the In the petition which was received by the office of the Chairman of the ICPC, Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN) on Tuesday

In the petition, Dangote asked ICPC TO arrest, investigation and prosecution of Ahmed for spending over $7 million for the education of his four children in different schools in Switzerland for a period of six years upfront, an amount he said is far above the lawful income of the NMDPRA boss.

The Dangote Group chairman claimed Ahmed was using NMDPRA to embezzle and divert public funds for self gains and pursuit of private interest to the detriment of the Nigerian people, a situation he claimed recently led to uproar and protest by different groups recently.

The billionaire businessman identified the four children of Ahmed and their schools in Switzerland in the petition.

He also listed the school fees being paid for each of the children to back up his claim.

Liable to five years imprisonment

Dangote noted in the petition that the NMDPRA boss has worked in the Nigerian public sector since his adulthood and that the totality of his earnings over the years was nothing close to $7 million.

He therefore claimed that he was diverting money from the public coffers to pay for the education of his teenage children abroad.

He asked the ICPC to act with decisiveness on his petition.

“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.

“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 complain 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.”

Ready To Provide Evidence

Dangote added that he is ready to provide evidence to proof of his allegations of corrupt enrichment, abuse of office, against Ahmed to the ICPC.

Recall that Dangote had during press conference at the Dangote Refinery in the Ibekku-Lekki area of Lagos State on Sunday first levelled the allegation of corruption against Ahmed, citing the fact that the latter enrolled his children in a secondary school outside of the country where he is paying five million dollars as fees.

Dangote heightened the battle against Ahmed on Tuesday with the publication of details of the allegations in a national daily.

This was before he submitted the petition against the the NMDPRA boss to the ICPC.

Dangote and the NMDPRA boss have been at war over continued importation of refined petroleum products into the country.

Dangote accused Ahmed of granting licenses for importation of petroleum products despite the fact that his $20 billion refinery can meet the needs of Nigerians

Dangote said the refinery had notified the NMDPRA of its ability to supply 50 million litres of petrol daily, surpassing national consumption needs while speaking with State House Correspondents after a recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.

He said the refinery’s long-term plan included expanding to 1.4 million barrels per day by 2028, overtaking India’s Reliance refinery, currently the world’s largest at 1.25 million barrels daily.

‎“We have already signed the necessary agreements. Construction piling begins before the end of January, and we will deliver on schedule,” the business mogul said.