Dangote set to appear before ICPC over corruption allegation against ex-NMDPRA boss
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has invited businessman Aliko Dangote to provide additional details over his petition against the immediate past Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Alhaji Farouk Ahmed.
Reports indicate that Dangote is expected to appear before the commission on Monday, December 22, or send a representative to formally adopt and support his petition with documents.
The commission has also set up a special panel of senior investigators to handle the case. According to sources, Dangote will be required to submit evidence and supporting documents before Farouk Ahmed is invited to respond
“All is set for the investigation,” a well-placed ICPC source told The Nation.
“ICPC has set up a panel of crack investigators on Dangote’s petition. The Chairman of the commission, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), asked the trusted team to stay action on a case and focus on Dangote’s petition. This underscores the importance attached to this case,” the source said.
“Either of them is to present relevant documents or evidence to support the petition. He who alleges must prove or provide lead on the allegations which our investigators must act on.
“We have acknowledged the receipt of the petition in line with our guidelines or mandate to do so within 48 hours.”
According to the source, once the petition is adopted, the commission will identify the key issues and invite Farouk Ahmed to respond.
“We have been inundated with enquiries, but I can assure you that ICPC will be fair to all the parties,” the source said.
In his petition, Dangote accused Farouk of corruption and misappropriation of funds, alleging that he spent millions of dollars on the education of his four children in expensive schools in Switzerland.
Dangote also accused the former NMDPRA boss of economic sabotage, alleging that he undermined local refining by colluding with international traders and fuel importers through the continued issuance of import licences.
Through his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja (SAN), Dangote demanded Farouk’s arrest, investigation and prosecution, accusing him of living far above his means as a public servant.
He alleged that Farouk spent more than $7 million on his children’s education abroad without any lawful source of income to justify it.
“Engr Farouk Ahmed spent without evidence of lawful means of income humongous amount of money of over $7million of public funds, for the education of his four children in different schools in Switzerland for a period of six years upfront,” Dangote alleged.
“It is without doubt that the above facts in relation to abuse of office, breach of the Code of Conduct for public officers, corrupt enrichment and embezzlement constitute gross acts of corrupt practices, for which ICPC is statutorily empowered under section 19 of the ICPC Act to investigate and prosecute,” he added.
The dispute between Dangote and petroleum regulators had earlier spilled into court, with the Dangote Petroleum Refinery filing a N100 billion lawsuit against the NMDPRA, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and others.
The refinery challenged the issuance of import licences for refined petroleum products, despite Nigeria’s growing domestic refining capacity, arguing that such actions violated provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act.
Confirming the petition, ICPC spokesperson John Odey said: “The commission received a formal petition on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, from Alhaji Aliko Dangote through his lawyer. The petition is against the CEO of the NMDPRA, Alhaji Farouk Ahmed. The ICPC wishes to state that the petition will be duly investigated.”
Farouk Ahmed resigned from his position on Wednesday, shortly after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu.
