By Ayo Kehinde
Africa’s richest man and Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Aliko Dangote, has petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Farouk Ahmed, over allegations of corruption, abuse of office, and financial impropriety.
Dated December 16, 2025, and submitted through Dr. O.J. Onoja, SAN & Associates on Dangote’s instructions, the petition was formally received by the Office of the ICPC Chairman in Abuja on Tuesday.
Titled “Petition Against Engr. Farouk Ahmed for Gross Abuse of Office, Violation of Code of Conduct for Public Officers, Corruption and Financial Impropriety,” the document urged the anti-graft agency to investigate claims that the NMDPRA chief allegedly misused his office for personal gain, in violation of applicable laws and ethical standards governing public officers.
According to the petition, Engr. Ahmed, appointed head of the petroleum regulator in September 2021, is accused of actions inconsistent with the Code of Conduct for Public Officers and provisions of the ICPC Act.
The allegations include unlawful spending of public funds and corrupt enrichment while in office.
Dangote called on the ICPC to examine the source of funds allegedly used for high-value personal expenditures, arguing that such spending could not be reasonably reconciled with earnings from a lifetime career in public service.
Citing relevant sections of the ICPC Act, the Fifth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and judicial authorities, Dangote emphasized that the allegations, if proven, constitute serious offences warranting investigation and prosecution.
He also informed the Commission of his readiness to present documentary and other evidence to substantiate the claims, urging swift action in the interest of transparency, accountability, and public confidence in government institutions.
Earlier, Dangote had alleged that Engr. Ahmed spent $5 million on the secondary education of four of his children over a six-year period at Swiss schools.
Speaking at a news conference at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery on Sunday, the industrialist called on the Federal Government to probe the lifestyle and financial dealings of the petroleum regulator, warning that such expenditures raise serious questions about integrity, conflicts of interest, and regulatory oversight in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.
As of press time, the ICPC had yet to issue an official statement on the petition, while efforts to obtain a response from the NMDPRA or Engr. Ahmed were unsuccessful.
