Aliko Dangote, has escalated a high-profile feud in Nigeria’s petroleum sector by submitting a formal petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The petition accuses Ahmed Farouk, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), of corruption, financial impropriety, and abuse of office.
Submitted on December 16 through Dangote’s lawyer, Ogwu James Onoja (SAN), and received by ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), the petition demands the immediate arrest, investigation, and prosecution of Farouk.
Dangote alleges that the NMDPRA boss has been living far beyond his legitimate earnings as a public servant, specifically citing expenditures exceeding $7 million paid upfront for the six-year education of his four children at elite schools in Switzerland.
The petition reportedly names the children and their respective institutions, providing details to facilitate verification by the ICPC.
Dangote claims Farouk’s cumulative public sector earnings could not reasonably fund such lavish spending, accusing him of embezzling and diverting public funds through his position at the NMDPRA for personal gain.
These actions, according to the petition, have contributed to public unrest, protests, and undermined trust in the downstream petroleum sector.
Dangote has vowed to appear in person to provide evidence supporting claims of corrupt enrichment, abuse of office, and impunity. He argues that swift ICPC action would uphold justice and safeguard the reputation of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
This development follows Dangote’s public accusations during a December 14 press briefing at the Dangote Refinery in Lagos, where he initially alleged Farouk spent around $5–7 million on his children’s secondary education abroad an amount he described as inconsistent with a public officer’s salary.
Similar allegations surfaced earlier in 2025, prompting protests and calls for probes by groups like SERAP and civil society organizations.
As of now, neither the ICPC nor NMDPRA has issued an official response to the petition. Farouk has previously denied related claims as baseless smear campaigns.+See more details
The ongoing rift has also drawn parliamentary attention, with the House of Representatives summoning both parties to address broader regulatory tensions in the oil sector.
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
