Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Ahmed Farouk, over alleged corruption.
Specifically, Dangote filed the petition on December 16 through his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, SAN, and submitted it to the office of the ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu, SAN. In the document, he urged the Commission to arrest, investigate, and prosecute the NMDPRA boss.
According to the petition, Dangote alleged that Farouk lives far beyond his legitimate income as a public servant. In particular, he claimed that Farouk spent more than $7 million on the education of his four children in Switzerland.
Furthermore, Dangote stated that the payments were allegedly made up front for extended periods. As a result, he argued that no lawful income source supports such expenditure.
To support his claims, the petition listed the names of the four children, the Swiss schools they attend, and the amounts allegedly paid for each child. Consequently, Dangote said this information would allow the ICPC to verify the claims independently.
Alleged Abuse of Office and Corrupt Enrichment
Beyond the education expenses, Dangote accused Farouk of abusing his office and using the NMDPRA to divert public funds for personal benefit. He maintained that these actions enriched the NMDPRA chief and served private interests.
Meanwhile, Dangote said the alleged misconduct triggered public outrage. Notably, he linked it to past protests against the regulator’s leadership.
In addition, Dangote said Farouk has spent his entire adult working life in Nigeria’s public sector. Therefore, he argued that Farouk could not have lawfully accumulated funds close to the alleged $7 million used to sponsor his children’s education abroad.
Citing the ICPC Act, Dangote described the alleged conduct as abuse of office, corrupt enrichment, and embezzlement. Under the law, conviction attracts a five-year prison sentence without an option of a fine.
At the same time, Dangote expressed confidence in the ICPC and other anti-corruption agencies to pursue the case. He added that decisive action would strengthen accountability and protect the image of the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Additionally, Dangote pledged to submit evidence to support his allegations of corruption, abuse of office, and impunity against the NMDPRA chief.
Earlier, Dangote raised similar concerns at a press briefing in Lagos. At that event, he accused the NMDPRA leadership of regulatory failures and corruption in the downstream petroleum sector. He warned that unresolved allegations could damage public trust and investor confidence.
Previously, in June 2025, protesters in Abuja raised similar allegations against Farouk. At the time, the group marched to the offices of the Attorney General of the Federation, the Code of Conduct Bureau, and the ICPC, and demanded his resignation.
However, the NMDPRA denied the allegations. Instead, the agency described them as false and part of an orchestrated smear campaign against its chief executive and leadership.