The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has invited businessman Aliko Dangote for further information regarding his petition against the immediate past Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Alhaji Farouk Ahmed.
Dangote is expected to appear or send his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja (SAN), tomorrow when ICPC’s investigation of the petition formally commences.
The commission set up a panel of experienced investigators on Friday to handle the probe, The Nation learnt yesterday.
According to sources, ICPC has asked Dangote to submit his evidence to the anti-graft agency.
Dangote had accused Farouk of corruption and misappropriation of funds, including spending millions of dollars on his four children’s education at exclusive schools in Switzerland.
The businessman also alleged that Farouk engaged in economic sabotage by undermining domestic refining through collusion with international traders and oil importers via the continued issuance of import licences.
Farouk has since resigned his appointment. However, the commission stated that the investigation will proceed despite his resignation.
“All is set for the investigation,” a well-placed ICPC source told The Nation yesterday.
“ICPC has set up a panel of experienced investigators specifically for Dangote’s petition. The Chairman of the commission, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), asked the team to focus on this case, underscoring its importance. We have invited Dangote or his lawyer to come on Monday to formally adopt the petition. Either of them is to present relevant documents or evidence to support the petition. He who alleges must provide proof or leads on the allegations for our investigators to act on.
“We have acknowledged receipt of the petition in line with our guidelines, which require action within 48 hours.”
The source continued: “After formal adoption of the petition, we will isolate issues and ask Ahmed to respond to the allegations. ICPC has received many enquiries, but I can assure you the commission will be fair to all parties.”
Responding to a question, the source added: “Ahmed’s resignation does not affect this probe, which is in the public interest.”
“Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act (ICPC Act 2000) makes it an offence for any public officer to use his/her position to confer an unfair or corrupt advantage on themselves, their relatives, associates, or other public officers. Anyone found guilty of such an offence is liable to five years’ imprisonment without the option of a fine. The law also stipulates harsh punishment for individuals deemed to have wasted ICPC’s time and resources by making malicious or frivolous petitions.”
He accused Farouk of “spending without evidence of lawful income over $7 million for the education of his four children” in Switzerland. The document named the children, their schools, and provided specific amounts paid for verification.
He accused Farouk of “spending without evidence of lawful income over $7 million for the education of his four children” in Switzerland. The document named the children, their schools, and provided specific amounts paid for verification.
“Engr. Farouk Ahmed spent without lawful means a humongous sum of over $7 million 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 these acts—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 led to a N100 billion lawsuit. Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja challenging import licences issued by NMDPRA and others, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
The refinery alleged that the regulator granted licences to import refined petroleum products despite domestic production capacity, in violation of sections of the Petroleum Industry Act. The suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1324/2024) was discontinued in July 2025 by Dangote’s lawyers.
ICPC petition guidelines state: