The Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over allegations of corrupt enrichment against the Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Ahmed Farouk.
In the petition dated December 16 and submitted through his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja (SAN), Dangote urged the ICPC to arrest, investigate and prosecute the NMDPRA chief, alleging that Farouk lives far beyond his lawful earnings as a public officer.
The petition, acknowledged by the office of the ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu (SAN), accused Farouk of spending more than $7 million on the education of his four children in Switzerland, allegedly paid upfront over a six-year period, without any verifiable source of legitimate income to justify the expenditure.
According to the petition, Farouk “grossly abused his office” in violation of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers and engaged in “monumental corruption and unlawful spending of public funds running into millions of dollars.”
It alleged that the funds used to finance the education of the children amounted to over $7 million and were expended without evidence of lawful income, describing the transaction as an abuse of office and corrupt enrichment.
Dangote listed the names of the children, the Swiss schools they attend and the amounts allegedly paid for each, urging the ICPC to independently verify the claims.
He further alleged that Farouk used the authority and resources of the NMDPRA to embezzle and divert public funds for personal benefit and private interests, actions he said had triggered public outrage and protests in recent months.
The businessman argued that Farouk had spent his entire working life in public service and could not, based on his legitimate earnings, have lawfully accumulated funds close to the amount allegedly used to sponsor his children’s education abroad.
“It is without doubt that the above facts in relation to abuse of office, breach of the Code of Conduct for public officers, corrupt enrichment and embezzlement constitute gross acts of corrupt practices,” the petition stated, adding that the ICPC is empowered under Section 19 of its Act to investigate and prosecute such offences.
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Dangote noted that conviction under the relevant provision attracts a prison term of five years without an option of fine.
He maintained that any public officer who uses his position to confer corrupt advantage on himself or associates is liable to prosecution, stressing that taxpayers’ funds meant for public good must not be diverted for private use.
The industrialist expressed confidence in the ICPC’s capacity, working with other anti-corruption agencies, to prosecute financial crimes once a prima facie case is established.
He urged the Commission to act decisively on the petition, arguing that firm action would serve the cause of justice and help protect the image of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Dangote also pledged to provide documentary evidence to support his allegations of abuse of office, corrupt enrichment and impunity against the NMDPRA boss.
The petition followed comments Dangote made during a press briefing in Lagos on Sunday, where he raised concerns over alleged regulatory failures and corruption in the downstream petroleum sector.
He warned that unresolved allegations would continue to erode public trust and undermine investor confidence in the industry.
In June 2025, similar allegations were raised against Farouk by a group of protesters in Abuja, who marched to the offices of the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Code of Conduct Bureau and the ICPC, demanding his resignation over claims that he had turned his office into a personal estate.
The NMDPRA has, however, denied all allegations against its chief executive, describing them as false and part of a coordinated smear campaign against Farouk and the authority’s leadership.
