EFCC Begins Probe of Alleged $7m Swiss School Fees Linked to Ex-NMDPRA Boss Farouk Ahmed
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced an investigation into allegations of abuse of office and unlawful expenditure of public funds involving Farouk Ahmed, former Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The investigation follows a petition submitted by billionaire industrialist and Chairman of Dangote Industries, Aliko Dangote, accusing Ahmed of allegedly spending about $7 million on the education of his children in Switzerland, an amount said to be inconsistent with his lawful earnings as a public officer.
A senior EFCC official, familiar with the matter, confirmed that the commission has begun preliminary investigations, including local and international inquiries, but noted that Ahmed has not yet been invited for questioning.
According to the official, the EFCC is currently engaging relevant government agencies, companies, and foreign institutions mentioned in the petition to obtain documents and responses necessary to verify the allegations.
“We have prepared the ground and started working on it. We have not invited the accused. We are writing to all parties mentioned in the petition to provide information that will be used to confront the accused. Whoever is indicted is always the last to be invited,” the source said.
The official added that some of the claims would require international verification, including correspondence with the Swiss secondary school where Ahmed’s children are allegedly enrolled.
The allegations were initially raised in December 2025, when Dangote submitted a petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), accusing Ahmed of violating the Code of Conduct for Public Officers.
However, in a letter dated January 5, 2026, Dangote, through his lawyer, formally withdrew the petition from the ICPC.
Despite the withdrawal, the ICPC announced it would continue examining the matter, citing provisions of its enabling Act which empower the commission to investigate corruption allegations once they have been brought to its attention.
The issue resurfaced publicly on July 6, when Dangote, through his legal representatives, submitted a fresh petition to the EFCC, requesting a comprehensive investigation into the allegations against the former NMDPRA boss.
The EFCC source stressed that Ahmed would only be invited for questioning after the commission concludes its preliminary investigations and gathers sufficient evidence from both local and international engagements.
