President and Chief Executive of the 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 on Friday in a statement issued by the Dangote Group’s media team.

The petition comes days after Dangote formally withdrew an earlier petition submitted to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), in which he accused Ahmed of alleged abuse of office and corrupt enrichment, including claims that the former regulator spent about $5 million on the secondary education of his children in Switzerland.

According to the statement, the decision to approach the EFCC followed the withdrawal of the ICPC petition and was described as a strategic move aimed at expediting prosecution.

In the new petition, signed by Dangote’s lead counsel, Dr. O.J. Onoja, SAN, the EFCC was urged to investigate allegations of abuse of office, financial misconduct and corrupt enrichment against Ahmed, and to prosecute him if a prima facie case is established.

The petition stated that Dangote is ready to present documentary and other supporting evidence to substantiate the allegations.

“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,” the petition read, citing relevant judicial precedents.

Onoja further called on the EFCC, under its Chairman Olanipekun Olukoyede, to urgently investigate the matter and ensure accountability if the allegations are proven.

Meanwhile, the ICPC has insisted that its investigation into the matter remains ongoing despite the withdrawal of the petition. In a statement titled “Investigation of Dangote’s Petition Against Engineer Farouk Ahmed of NMDPRA Continues,” the Commission confirmed receiving a withdrawal letter dated January 5, 2026, submitted by Onoja on behalf of Dangote.

The ICPC explained that while the petitioner withdrew the complaint on the grounds that another law enforcement agency had taken over the investigation, the Commission could not discontinue its probe once an investigation had commenced, particularly in matters of public interest.

According to the ICPC, Sections 3(14) and 27(3) of its enabling Act empower it to continue investigations regardless of a petitioner’s withdrawal.

“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,” the Commission stated.

The allegations against Ahmed, which include claims of misappropriation of public funds and unexplained wealth, sparked public outrage and heightened scrutiny of Nigeria’s petroleum sector regulator. Dangote alleged that Ahmed spent millions of dollars on his children’s education abroad without any verifiable lawful income to justify the expenditure.

Following the filing of the petition and the ensuing controversy, Ahmed resigned from office, after which President Bola Tinubu appointed a replacement to head the NMDPRA.

In late December 2025, the ICPC had invited Dangote to appear before a special panel of investigators in Abuja over the petition submitted against the former regulator.