Africa’s richest man and President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has formally petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged corruption, financial impropriety and abuse of office by the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed.
The petition, dated December 16, was submitted through Dangote’s legal counsel, Ogwu James Onoja (SAN), and received by the ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN). In the document, Dangote called for the immediate arrest, investigation and prosecution of the NMDPRA boss, accusing him of living far beyond his legitimate earnings as a public servant.
According to the petition, Ahmed allegedly spent more than $7 million upfront on the six-year education of his four children at prestigious schools in Switzerland. Dangote claimed that such expenditure could not reasonably be funded by Ahmed’s cumulative earnings in public service, alleging that the funds were derived from embezzlement and diversion of public resources through his position at the petroleum regulatory agency.
The petition reportedly lists the names of Ahmed’s children and their respective schools, providing details intended to assist the ICPC in verifying the claims. Dangote argued that the alleged conduct amounted to corrupt enrichment, abuse of office and a serious breach of public trust.
He further alleged that the actions of the NMDPRA chief had contributed to public discontent, protests and a growing lack of confidence in the regulation of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector. According to Dangote, failure to act decisively on the allegations would deepen perceptions of impunity among senior public officials.
In the petition, Dangote reportedly expressed readiness to appear personally before the ICPC to provide documentary and testimonial evidence in support of his claims. He stated that a prompt and transparent investigation would not only serve the cause of justice but also help protect the integrity and reputation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The petition marks an escalation of a long-running and highly publicised dispute between Dangote and the petroleum regulator. On December 14, during a press briefing at the Dangote Refinery in Lagos, the business magnate had publicly accused Ahmed of spending between $5 million and $7 million on his children’s foreign education, an amount he said was inconsistent with the income of a public officer.
Similar allegations had surfaced earlier in 2025, triggering protests and calls for investigation by civil society organisations, including the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). The controversy has also attracted legislative attention, with the House of Representatives summoning both Dangote and the NMDPRA leadership to address broader concerns about regulation and transparency in the oil and gas sector.
As of press time, neither the ICPC nor the NMDPRA has issued an official response to the petition. Farouk Ahmed has previously dismissed related allegations as baseless and politically motivated smear campaigns.
The unfolding episode is being closely watched, given its implications for governance, regulatory credibility and accountability in Nigeria’s critical petroleum industry.
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