Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has formally petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), calling for the arrest, investigation and prosecution of the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Ahmed Farouk, over serious allegations of corruption.
The petition, dated December 16 and submitted through Dangote’s lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, SAN, was received by the office of the ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu, SAN. In it, Dangote accused the NMDPRA boss of living far beyond his legitimate income as a public officer.
According to the petition, Farouk allegedly spent more than $7 million on the education of his four children in Switzerland, with the fees reportedly paid upfront for a six-year period. Dangote argued that such an amount could not be justified by Farouk’s lawful earnings, given his entire career has been spent in public service.
The petition alleged that the NMDPRA chief abused his office in violation of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers and engaged in large-scale corruption, including the diversion and misuse of public funds running into millions of dollars.
Dangote reportedly provided details in the petition, including the names of the four children, the Swiss schools they attend and the amounts allegedly paid on their behalf, urging the ICPC to independently verify the claims.
He further accused Farouk of using the authority and resources of the NMDPRA to enrich himself and advance private interests, actions he claimed have sparked public anger and contributed to protests against the agency’s leadership.
The industrialist maintained that, based on Farouk’s legitimate income over the years, it would be impossible for him to lawfully accumulate funds close to the alleged amount used to finance his children’s education abroad.
Citing provisions of the ICPC Act, Dangote argued that the allegations amount to abuse of office, corrupt enrichment and embezzlement, offences which attract a jail term of up to five years without an option of fine upon conviction.
He urged the anti-graft agency to act decisively, stressing that public officers who use their positions to confer unfair advantages on themselves or their relatives must be held accountable.
Dangote also expressed confidence in the ICPC and other anti-corruption agencies to thoroughly investigate the matter and prosecute anyone found culpable, noting that the allegations are already in the public domain.
He added that firm action by the commission would help uphold justice and protect the integrity of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The billionaire businessman pledged to provide documentary evidence to back his claims of abuse of office, corrupt enrichment and impunity against the NMDPRA chief.
The petition followed earlier public comments made by Dangote during a press briefing in Lagos on Sunday, where he raised concerns about alleged regulatory failures and corruption within the downstream petroleum sector.
He warned that failure to address the allegations could further erode public confidence and discourage investment in the sector.
In June 2025, similar accusations were levelled against Farouk by protesters in Abuja, who marched to the offices of the Attorney General of the Federation, the Code of Conduct Bureau and the ICPC, demanding his resignation over claims that he was running the agency as a personal empire.
The NMDPRA has since dismissed all allegations against its leadership, describing them as false, malicious and part of a coordinated smear campaign.
