The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Friday by the Dangote Group’s media team.
The President and Chief Executive of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has filed a fresh petition with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the immediate past Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Friday by the Dangote Group’s media team.
The latest move comes days after Dangote withdrew a similar petition earlier submitted to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), in which he accused Ahmed of allegedly spending about $5 million on his children’s secondary education in Switzerland.
According to the statement, Dangote’s decision to approach the EFCC followed “the withdrawal of the same petition from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, a strategic decision aimed at accelerating the prosecution process.”
In the fresh petition, signed by Dangote’s lead counsel, Dr O.J. Onoja, the anti-graft agency was urged to investigate allegations of abuse of office and corrupt enrichment levelled against Ahmed and to prosecute him if found culpable.
The petition further stated that Dangote was prepared to present documentary and other evidence to substantiate the allegations of financial misconduct and alleged impunity.
“We make bold to state that the Commission is strategically positioned, along with sister agencies, to prosecute financial crimes and corruption-related offences, and upon establishing a prima facie case, the courts do not hesitate to punish offenders. See Lawan v. F.R.N (2024) 12 NWLR (Pt. 1953) 501 and Shema v. F.R.N. (2018) 9 NWLR (Pt.1624) 337,” the petition read.
Onoja also called on the EFCC, under the leadership of its Chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede, to urgently investigate the allegations against Ahmed and ensure his prosecution should he be found wanting.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that ICPC had declared that it would continue investigating a corruption petition filed by Dangote, against Ahmed despite the withdrawal of the petition.
The ICPC disclosed this in a press statement titled “Investigation of Dangote’s Petition Against Engineer Farouk Ahmed of NMDPRA Continues,” confirming that it received a letter dated January 5, 2026, notifying it of the withdrawal.
According to the Commission, the letter, titled “Notice of Withdrawal of Petition Against Engineer Farouk Ahmed”, was submitted by Dr. O. J. Onoja, SAN & Associates, counsel to Dangote.
The legal team informed the ICPC that the petition dated December 16, 2025, against Ahmed had been withdrawn in its entirety.
The ICPC said Dangote’s lawyers explained that the decision was taken on the grounds that another law enforcement agency had taken over investigations into the allegations contained in the petition.
However, in a press release issued on Wednesday by its Spokesperson and Head of Media and Public Communications, Okor Odey, the anti-corruption agency confirmed receipt of the withdrawal letter but stressed that the investigation would not be halted.
According to the Commission, once a petition alleging corruption is received and investigation has commenced, the process cannot be terminated at the discretion of the petitioner, particularly where issues of public interest and alleged abuse of office are involved.
The ICPC firmly rejected any suggestion that the withdrawal of the petition would stop its probe.
“The letter from O.J. Onoja, SAN, states that the petitioner has withdrawn the petition dated December 16, 2025, submitted against Engineer Farouk Ahmed, the immediate past ACE/CEO of the NMDPRA, in its entirety, and that another law enforcement agency has taken over,” the Commission stated.
“The ICPC wishes to state categorically that, in line with the provisions of Sections 3(14) and 27(3) of its enabling Act, investigations in the interest of the Nigerian people and the Nigerian state have already commenced and are presently ongoing.
“The ICPC will therefore continue to investigate this matter in line with its statutory mandate and in the interest of transparency, accountability and the fight against corruption for the benefit of Nigeria.”
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that Dangote accused Ahmed of corruption and alleged misappropriation of public funds, claims that sparked widespread outrage and intensified scrutiny of the petroleum sector regulator.
Central to the allegations was Dangote’s claim that Farouk spent millions of dollars on the education of his four children in Switzerland, allegedly without any verifiable lawful income to justify such expenditure.
Dangote reportedly put the figure at about $5 million, questioning how a public official could afford such costs amid worsening economic hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians.
Following the public accusations and the filing of the petition with the ICPC, Ahmed resigned from office. President Bola Tinubu later appointed a replacement to head the NMDPRA.
In late December 2025, the ICPC invited Dangote to appear before a special panel of investigators in Abuja over the petition he submitted against Ahmed.