Nigerian billionaire and industrialist Aliko Dangote has filed a petition with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), accusing the former Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, of alleged corruption and abuse of office.
Sources familiar with the complaint said Dangote Group accused the former regulator of deliberately frustrating operations at the $20 billion Dangote Refinery by withholding necessary licenses and approvals, allegedly due to the company’s refusal to pay bribes.
The petition, submitted earlier this week, details what the Dangote Group describes as a “consistent pattern of sabotage” during Ahmed’s tenure. It claims that delays in granting import and export permits, coupled with unnecessary regulatory bottlenecks, cost the refinery billions in losses.
EFCC officials confirmed receipt of the petition but declined to comment on ongoing investigations. “We are reviewing the details, and appropriate action will be taken,” a senior EFCC officer said.
Farouk Ahmed, who left the NMDPRA in late 2023 after completing his term, has yet to respond publicly to the allegations. Attempts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful.
The Dangote Refinery, located in Lagos, is Africa’s largest and was commissioned in 2023 with the goal of reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuel. Since operations began, the refinery has faced several regulatory and logistical hurdles.
Analysts say the outcome of this petition could have major implications for transparency in Nigeria’s oil sector, long plagued by allegations of graft and inefficiency.
