ICPC confirms receipt of Dangote’s petition against NMDPRA boss

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed receipt of a petition filed by Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, against the Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Ahmed Farouk.

The anti-graft agency disclosed that it has commenced preliminary steps to investigate the allegations contained in the petition.

Dangote submitted the petition on Tuesday through his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, SAN, accusing the NMDPRA boss of corruption, abuse of office and financial impropriety.

In a statement issued hours after the petition was lodged, ICPC spokesperson, Mr John Odey, confirmed that the commission had formally received the complaint.

“The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) writes to confirm that it received a formal petition today, Tuesday, December 16, 2025, from Alhaji Aliko Dangote through his lawyer,” the statement said.

According to the commission, the petition is directed against the Chief Executive Officer of the NMDPRA, Alhaji Farouk Ahmed, and the allegations will be thoroughly investigated in line with the commission’s statutory mandate.

In the petition, Dangote alleged that Farouk spent over $7 million on the education of his four children in Switzerland over a six-year period, without any evidence of lawful income to justify such expenditure.

The industrialist further claimed that the funds were paid upfront and accused the NMDPRA chief of abusing his office by allegedly using the regulatory authority to embezzle and divert public funds for personal benefit.

Dangote said the alleged actions amount to breaches of the Code of Conduct for public officers, corrupt enrichment and embezzlement, offences which fall within the investigative and prosecutorial powers of the ICPC under Section 19 of the ICPC Act.

He urged the commission to conduct a comprehensive investigation and prosecute the NMDPRA boss if a prima facie case is established, noting that conviction under the law attracts a five-year jail term without an option of fine.

Dangote also appealed to the commission to act in the public interest, stressing that decisive action would help sustain public confidence and protect the image of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has summoned both Dangote and Farouk Ahmed over the dispute, urging them to refrain from further public exchanges on the matter. Lawmakers warned that continued public confrontation could undermine recent reforms and stability in the downstream petroleum sector.