Amid the allegations of corruption and lavish spending, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it will probe claims leveled by Aliko Dangote against the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed.
The petition, submitted on Tuesday through Dangote’s lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, calls on the ICPC to investigate and prosecute Ahmed for allegedly living far beyond his legitimate means. ICPC spokesperson John Odey said the commission would duly investigate the matter.
Dangote alleged that Ahmed spent over seven million dollars on the education of his four children in Switzerland, paying upfront for a six-month period, without any lawful source of income to justify such expenditure. The petition included the names of the children, the schools they attend, and the amounts paid to enable verification.
He further accused Ahmed of using the NMDPRA to embezzle public funds for personal gain, claiming these actions have sparked public outrage and protests. Dangote argued that Ahmed’s earnings from a lifetime in the public sector could not have legally funded such expenses.
“It is without doubt that these actions constitute abuse of office, breach of the Code of Conduct for public officers, corrupt enrichment, and embezzlement”, Dangote said, citing Section 19 of the ICPC Act, which empowers the commission to investigate and prosecute such offences, punishable by up to five years in prison without an option of a fine.
Dangote had also publicly raised allegations against Ahmed during a press briefing in Lagos on Sunday, highlighting regulatory failures and corruption in the downstream petroleum sector.
Similar claims were made in June 2025 by protesters in Abuja, who petitioned the Attorney General, Code of Conduct Bureau, and ICPC, demanding Ahmed’s resignation.
The NMDPRA, however, has denied all allegations, describing them as a coordinated smear campaign against its CEO.
