Nigeria’s foremost industrialist, Aliko Dangote, has petitioned anti-corruption agencies over alleged corruption and financial impropriety by the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Farouk Ahmed, calling for a full investigation by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
In a petition dated December 16, 2025, submitted through his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja (SAN), Dangote alleged that Farouk has lived far beyond his legitimate earnings as a public servant, accusing him of abuse of office, corrupt enrichment, and embezzlement of public funds.
According to the petition, Farouk allegedly spent over $7 million on the secondary education of his four children in Switzerland, expenses Dangote claims cannot be reasonably explained by Farouk’s earnings throughout his career in Nigeria’s public service. The petition reportedly contains the names of the children, the Swiss schools attended, and the sums paid, submitted to aid verification by investigators.
Dangote argued that the alleged conduct constitutes violations of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers and offences under Section 19 of the ICPC Act, which prescribes imprisonment without the option of fine upon conviction. He urged the ICPC to carry out a comprehensive investigation and prosecute Farouk if found culpable.
Beyond the corruption allegations, Dangote also accused the NMDPRA leadership of policies and practices that allegedly undermine local refining and industrialisation, particularly the issuance of petroleum import licences that, he claims, disadvantage domestic refiners. The disagreement between Dangote and the petroleum regulator has intensified in recent months, drawing public attention to regulatory tensions within Nigeria’s downstream oil sector.
Reacting to the allegations, Engr. Farouk Ahmed reportedly dismissed them as “wild and spurious”, stating that he would not engage in media exchanges and would instead allow appropriate authorities to determine the facts. He is said to be cooperating with any legitimate investigation.
The controversy has also drawn the attention of the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources (Midstream and Downstream), which has summoned both parties to appear and present their positions. Lawmakers have urged restraint and called for an end to public confrontations while legislative and regulatory reviews are ongoing.
Meanwhile, civil society organisations have joined calls for transparency, with groups including the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) urging anti-corruption agencies to investigate the allegations. Protests were also staged in Abuja, with activists demanding swift and impartial action.
The ICPC has confirmed receipt of Dangote’s petition and indicated that investigations will commence, marking a significant escalation in a dispute that has raised broader questions about governance, accountability, and regulatory integrity in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.
Chief Edet Isong