“Dangote’s allegations baseless” – NMDPRA CEO rejects claim on $7m children’s school fees

The allegations by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, against the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) CEO Farouk Ahmed, takes another turn on Wednesday, December 17, when Ahmed publicly dismissed the allegations as false.
‎
The rift started when Dangote initially leveled corruption charges against Ahmed, accusing him of economic sabotage by flooding the market with import licenses to undermine Dangote’s refinery.
‎
Dangote in order to back his corruption allegation claims, published a detailed breakdown of Ahmed’s personal spending, alleging that he spent over $7 million on Swiss secondary schools and a Harvard MBA for his four children, a costs Dangote argued are impossible for a public servant to afford throughout the service year.
‎
On Tuesday, Dangote escalated the matter by filing a formal petition with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), calling for Ahmed’s arrest and prosecution.
‎
The CEO of NMDPRA Farouk Ahmed, made a statement on Tuesday stating that the allegations raised against him are false and untrue. He clearly stated that his children received 40-65% merit-based scholarships and utilized family trust funds.
‎
Ahmed stated that his 34-year career was built on merit. He welcomes the ICPC probe as an opportunity to clear his name in a formal setting rather than engaging in public media brickbat. He stated that the allegations raised by Dangote are targeted at intimidating him and the independence of the regulatory body.
‎
Dangote insists his actions are not personal but a fight for the survival of the Nigerian economy. He challenged Ahmed to prove the source of the millions of dollars spent abroad while many parents in his state cannot afford ₦10,000 school fees.
‎
The House of Representatives has now stepped in, summoning both Dangote and Ahmed to a joint committee hearing to resolve the rift.