…as Dangote insists the scale of the alleged expenditure does not align with Ahmed’s known income as a public office holder.
Lagos, Nigeria — The iNews Times, Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has accused the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, of living beyond his legitimate means, calling for a formal investigation into his finances.
Dangote made the allegation on Sunday while addressing members of the press, claiming that Ahmed pays as much as $5 million per child in school fees for his children enrolled in secondary schools in Switzerland.
According to the billionaire industrialist, the scale of the alleged expenditure does not align with Ahmed’s known income as a public office holder, raising serious questions about financial propriety.
“Mallam Farouk has four of his children whom he educated in Switzerland at a cost of $5 million for their secondary school education alone, not university,” Dangote said.
He further argued that even his own wealth would attract scrutiny if such an amount were spent on education.
“When you look at his income, his income does not match paying this kind of fees. And even if it’s me paying $5 million for six years for my four children, the taxman has to look at my taxes and how much I pay,” he added.
Dangote also contrasted the alleged spending with the economic hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians, particularly in Ahmed’s home state.
“From Sokoto, where he comes from, people are struggling to pay ₦100,000 for school fees. Many children are at home, not going to school, because of ₦100,000,” he said.
The comments signal a renewed escalation in the ongoing feud between Dangote and the leadership of the petroleum regulatory authority.
As of the time of filing this report, Farouk Ahmed has not issued any official statement nor responded to the allegations made against him.
