Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote has filed a formal petition with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Ahmed Farouk, the immediate past head of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The petition, submitted through Dangote’s legal representatives, alleges misconduct and abuse of office during Farouk’s tenure at the petroleum regulator.
The claims are understood to centre on regulatory actions and decisions taken while Farouk was in office, which Dangote is asking the EFCC to investigate for possible breaches of Nigeria’s anti-corruption laws.
The move marks an escalation in a dispute that has drawn attention to governance and accountability within Nigeria’s petroleum regulatory framework.
Dangote’s petition seeks a full probe by the EFCC and, where necessary, prosecution if wrongdoing is established.
Farouk, who recently exited the NMDPRA, has not publicly responded to the allegations at the time of writing. Nigerian authorities have not disclosed whether the former regulator has been invited or questioned in connection with the petition.
The development places renewed focus on the conduct of regulators in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, particularly at a time when the government is implementing reforms under the Petroleum Industry Act to strengthen oversight, transparency, and investor confidence.
For the EFCC, the petition adds to a growing list of high-profile cases involving senior public officials and regulatory institutions.
The commission is expected to review the submission and determine the next steps in line with its investigative procedures.
The case also underscores rising tensions between major private-sector players and regulators and highlighted the broader debate over regulatory discretion, accountability, and the balance of power in Nigeria’s strategic energy industry.