Founder and President/CEO of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, on Sunday accused Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), of corruption, alleging that he spent $5 million on the secondary school education of his four children in Switzerland.
Dangote made the claims during a media briefing at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Fertiliser Plant in Lekki, Lagos, describing the expenditure as inconsistent with a public servant’s income and a threat to public trust in regulatory institutions.
“I’ve had people complaining about a regulator who put his children in secondary school abroad, and that six-year education for four children cost Nigeria five million dollars. My children went to secondary school in Nigeria,” Dangote said.
The billionaire argued that taxpayers deserve accountability, questioning how a public official could afford such lavish education if public funds were properly managed.
“This is a system where some of us are taxpayers. When people are complaining, we also complain, because when I pay tax, I want to see my money put to use, not stolen,” he said. “I don’t know why the authority chief executive, Mallam Farouk, has four children educated in Switzerland at the cost of five million dollars for their secondary school education alone.”
Concerns about accountability and integrity
Dangote highlighted the alleged expenditure as a serious concern for income declaration, conflicts of interest, and regulatory integrity in the petroleum sector.
“The man must come and explain to Nigerians how he paid five million dollars for six years of his four children’s education. Even if it were me, the taxman would have to account for it,” he said, referencing reports that one of Ahmed’s children recently graduated from Harvard.
Call for investigation
Dangote stressed that Ahmed should not be dismissed immediately but must first be investigated by the appropriate authorities.
“The Code of Conduct Bureau, or any other relevant body, should investigate the matter. Let them see whether his income matches the five million dollars spent on school fees for six years for four children,” he said. “He does not need to be sacked. Let him clear that he has not compromised his position at the expense of Nigerians.”
He contrasted the alleged spending with the struggles of ordinary Nigerians, noting that many parents cannot afford even ₦100,000 for secondary school fees.
Threat to sue Swiss schools
Dangote warned that he would pursue legal action to compel disclosure if the allegation is denied.
“If he denies it, I will publish what he paid as tuition and sue the schools to disclose the full amount. People who have done something wrong must be prosecuted,” he said.
As of filing, Ahmed has not responded to the allegations.
