Founder and President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has accused the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, of corruption, alleging that he spent about five million dollars on secondary school education for his children in Switzerland.
Dangote made the allegation on Sunday during a media briefing at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Fertiliser Plant in Lekki, Lagos. He described the alleged expenditure as inconsistent with the earnings of a public servant and said it raises serious concerns about transparency and integrity within regulatory institutions.
According to Dangote, the alleged five million dollars covered six years of secondary school education for four children, an amount he said could not reasonably be justified by income from public service alone.
“I’ve had people complaining about a regulator who put his children in secondary school abroad, and that education, which lasted six years for four children, cost Nigeria five million dollars,” Dangote said.
He contrasted the allegation with his personal experience, noting that his own children attended secondary school in Nigeria.
“My children went to secondary school in Nigeria. They did not go abroad for secondary education,” he added.
Dangote questioned how a public official could afford such expenses if public funds were being properly managed and declared.
“This is a system where some of us are taxpayers. When I pay tax, I want to see my money put to use, not stolen,” he said.
He further alleged that Ahmed also sponsored overseas university education for at least one of his children, claiming that one reportedly attended Harvard University. Dangote argued that such spending patterns demand scrutiny.
“Even if it were me paying five million dollars for secondary school fees alone, the tax authorities would ask questions about how I made that money,” he said.
The billionaire businessman said the allegations raise issues bordering on false asset declaration, conflict of interest and regulatory compromise in the downstream petroleum sector. He called on the Code of Conduct Bureau or any other appropriate government agency to investigate the matter.
According to him, Ahmed should not be summarily removed from office but should be given the opportunity to explain the source of funds used to finance the alleged foreign education.
“He does not need to be sacked immediately. Let the Code of Conduct Bureau or any relevant authority investigate whether his income matches the five million dollars allegedly paid for school fees,” Dangote said.
He also highlighted the contrast between the alleged spending and the financial struggles of ordinary Nigerians, many of whom he said cannot afford modest secondary school fees.
“From where he comes from, people are struggling to pay one hundred thousand naira for school fees. Many children are at home because their parents cannot afford it,” he said.
Dangote warned that he would pursue legal action if the allegation is denied, including compelling foreign schools to disclose payment records.
“If he denies it, I will publish the tuition details and sue the schools to disclose how much was paid over the years,” he said, adding that public officials found to have acted unlawfully must be prosecuted.
As of the time of filing this report, Farouk Ahmed has not responded publicly to the allegations.
