The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed the receipt of a formal petition submitted by Africa’s richest businessman, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, against the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Farouk Ahmed, and has assured the public that the allegations will be thoroughly investigated.
Dangote, Chairman of the Dangote Group, through his legal counsel, Ogwu Onoja (SAN), accused the NMDPRA boss of corruption, abuse of office, and financial impropriety. While the allegations have sparked intense public debate, neither the NMDPRA nor Ahmed has issued an official response as of the time of filing this report.
Petition and Allegations Submitted to ICPC
In the petition dated Tuesday, December 16, 2025, Dangote alleged that Engr. Ahmed expended over $7 million on the education of his four children in Switzerland over a six-year period, without verifiable lawful sources of income. The petition further accused the NMDPRA chief of diverting public funds for private benefit, actions said to be detrimental to national interest.
The petition cited alleged violations including abuse of office, breach of the Code of Conduct for public officers, corrupt enrichment, and embezzlement. Dangote’s legal team argued that such actions fall squarely within offences prosecutable under Section 19 of the ICPC Act, which prescribes up to five years’ imprisonment upon conviction, without an option of fine.
Dangote also urged the anti-corruption agency to act decisively, noting that the matter is of significant public interest and stressing that a credible investigation would help safeguard public trust and the integrity of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
ICPC’s Response and Legislative Intervention
Hours after the petition was submitted, the ICPC publicly acknowledged its receipt. In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Mr. John Odey, the commission confirmed that the petition was formally received and would be duly investigated in line with its statutory mandate.
“The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) wishes to state that the petition will be duly investigated,” the statement read, underscoring the commission’s role in addressing allegations of corruption involving public officials.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has summoned both parties and advised them to refrain from making further public comments on the matter. Lawmakers warned that the public feud could undermine progress recorded in the downstream petroleum sector, urging restraint while institutional processes take their course.
Divergent Reactions and Calls for Due Process
The allegations have continued to attract mixed reactions from the legal community. A coalition of 40 lawyers, operating under the banner of Lawyers in Defence of Democracy and Anti-Corruption, dismissed the claims against Ahmed as unfounded and politically motivated.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the group’s National Coordinator, Emeka Okafor, alongside its Secretary, Barrister Mohammed Bello, described the allegations as a “media trial” lacking factual and evidentiary backing. They argued that claims regarding millions of dollars allegedly spent on foreign education were reckless and unsupported.
The lawyers further defended Ahmed’s regulatory actions, stating that his leadership at the NMDPRA has focused on curbing monopolistic practices and encouraging broader investor participation in Nigeria’s petroleum sector. They warned that public allegations without due process could deter both local and foreign investors, particularly at a time when economic reforms are central to the federal government’s agenda.
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