By Gift Ishaq, Abuja
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed the receipt of a formal petition from the President of Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, against the CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Alhaji Ahmed Farouk.
The ICPC acknowledged the receipt of the petition in a statement made available on Tuesday by its spokesperson, John Okor Odey, saying that, “The ICPC wishes to state that the petition will be duly investigated.”
Dangote had through his lawyer, Dr. O. J. Onoja (SAN), submitted the petition to the office of the ICPC Chairman at its corporate headquarters in Abuja.
In the petition, Dangote accused the NMDPRA boss of alleged spending, without evidence of lawful means of income, whopping amount over $7 million on the education of his four children in different schools in Switzerland for a period of six years upfront.
The Africa’s richest man is also demanding for the arrest, investigation and prosecution of Farouk for allegedly living above his means as a public servant.
Dangote further named the four children and their schools in Switzerland including the amount paid for each of them, to establish his allegations.
He alleged that Farouk 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.
The billionaire businessman claimed that Farouk 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, allegedly diverted from the public coffers to pay for the education of his teenage children abroad.
The petition reads in part, “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.
“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 Ahmed Farouk 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.”
Dangote also vowed to be on ground to proffer evidence in proof of his allegations of corrupt enrichment, abuse of office, and impunity against Engr Ahmed Farouk
