Siaka MOMOH
‘Dangote Group Chairman specifically accused the NMDPRA boss of spending, without evidence of lawful means, of income amounting to over $7 million for the education of his four children in different schools in Switzerland for a period of six years upfront.’
To further reinforce his allegations against the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Ahmed Farouk over his alleged payment of his children school fees through illegitimate means, the Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has submitted a petition against him to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), accusing him of corruption and financial impropriety.
In the petition submitted on December 16, through his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja (SAN), Dangote demanded the arrest, investigation and prosecution of Ahmed for allegedly living above his means as a public servant.
According to the petition received by the office of the Chairman of the ICPC, Musa Aliyu (SAN), the Dangote Group Chairman specifically accused the NMDPRA boss of spending, without evidence of lawful means, of income amounting to over $7 million for the education of his four children in different schools in Switzerland for a period of six years upfront.
In the petition, Dangote listed the children and their schools in Switzerland including the amount paid for each of them to establish his allegations and verification by the anti-graft agency.
He alleged that 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.
Dangote claimed that the NMDPRA boss 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.
The entrepreneur said the money was allegedly diverted from the public coffers to pay for the education of his teenage children abroad.
‘Act Decisively’
“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.”
‘Nigerians Deserve to Know’
The Kano-born businessman first made the allegations against Ahmed during an interview on Sunday, questioning the latter’s source of wealth.
