We’ve Dangote’s Petition Against NMDPRA CEO Farouk Ahmed, Confirms ICPC

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed that it has received a formal petition from Africa’s richest man and Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, against the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Farouk Ahmed.

The confirmation by the anti-graft agency marks a significant escalation in the ongoing dispute between Dangote and the petroleum sector regulator, which has played out publicly in recent weeks amid rising tensions over regulatory decisions affecting Nigeria’s downstream oil and gas sector. According to reports, the petition was submitted to the ICPC through Dangote’s legal team led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). In the petition, Dangote accused the NMDPRA boss of alleged corrupt practices, abuse of office, and financial impropriety, urging the commission to investigate Ahmed’s lifestyle and sources of income. Central to the allegations is a claim that the NMDPRA CEO allegedly spent more than $7 million on the education of his children in Switzerland, including tuition reportedly paid upfront for several years. Dangote’s petition argues that such expenditure is inconsistent with Ahmed’s known official earnings as a public servant and calls for a thorough probe to determine whether the funds were lawfully acquired. The ICPC, while confirming receipt of the petition, stated that it would review the allegations in line with its statutory mandate. The commission did not provide a timeline for the investigation but noted that petitions of this nature are subjected to preliminary assessment before further action is taken. The development has sparked widespread reactions across the political, civil society, and energy sectors. Some civil society organisations have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend the NMDPRA boss pending the outcome of investigations, arguing that doing so would protect the integrity of the probe and reinforce public confidence in the anti-corruption process. Others, however, have urged caution, stressing the need to respect due process and avoid trial by media. The National Assembly has also waded into the controversy, with the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources reportedly summoning officials of the NMDPRA and representatives of Dangote Refinery to clarify issues surrounding regulatory disputes in the downstream sector. Lawmakers have expressed concern that the public face-off could undermine investor confidence and disrupt efforts to stabilise Nigeria’s petroleum industry. The petition comes against the backdrop of ongoing disagreements between Dangote Refinery and the NMDPRA over fuel importation, licensing, and regulatory oversight, issues that have generated intense public debate given the refinery’s strategic importance to Nigeria’s energy security. As the ICPC begins its assessment, attention is now focused on whether the allegations will result in a full-scale investigation and possible prosecution. The outcome is expected to have far-reaching implications, not only for the individuals involved but also for regulatory governance and accountability in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.