The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed that it has received a petition from Aliko Dangote against the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed. In a brief statement issued on Tuesday, the commission’s spokesperson, John Odey, said the petition would be thoroughly examined. The confirmation came hours after Dangote, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Industries Limited, formally submitted the petition to the anti-graft agency.
Over the past two days, Dangote has publicly accused Ahmed of corruption and economic sabotage, intensifying a long-standing dispute over the NMDPRA’s continued approval of licences for the importation of refined petroleum products into Nigeria. Dangote has argued that the policy undermines domestic refining capacity and poses risks to the broader economy.
Speaking on Sunday at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lagos, Dangote alleged that Ahmed was engaged in economic sabotage, claiming the NMDPRA chief colluded with foreign traders and fuel importers through the persistent issuance of import licences. He also raised questions about Ahmed’s personal spending, alleging that four of his children attend private schools in Switzerland, which he suggested could point to a conflict of interest.
On Monday, Dangote expanded his claims to include allegations of corruption and misappropriation of public funds, citing specific figures related to the cost of his children’s education abroad. He alleged that about $5 million was spent on secondary education and upkeep over six years, with an additional $2 million spent on tertiary education, including $210,000 for a 2025 MBA programme at Harvard University.
Dangote, through his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, submitted the petition to the ICPC, urging the commission to arrest, investigate, and prosecute Ahmed for allegedly living beyond his legitimate income as a public official. The petition, addressed to ICPC Chairman Musa Aliyu, claimed that Ahmed spent more than $7 million on the education of his four children in Switzerland without clear evidence of lawful earnings.
The document reportedly included the names of the children, the schools they attended, and specific amounts to aid verification. Dangote further accused Ahmed of abusing his office to divert public funds, a development that has sparked reactions from civil society groups. Citing Section 19 of the ICPC Act, Dangote noted that the commission has the authority to investigate and prosecute corrupt practices, with penalties that could include up to five years’ imprisonment without an option of a fine. He urged the ICPC to act swiftly and stated that he was ready to provide supporting evidence for his allegations.Attempts to obtain Ahmed’s response on Tuesday were unsuccessful. However, George Ene-Ita, Head of Public Affairs at the NMDPRA, told PREMIUM TIMES that the agency had no comment on the matter.
Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/
