Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has filed a petition with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against the Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Ahmed Farouk.
The petition, dated December 16 and submitted through Dangote’s lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, SAN, calls on the ICPC to arrest, investigate, and prosecute Farouk over allegations that he is living far beyond his legitimate earnings as a public official.
In the document received by the ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu, SAN, Dangote alleged that Farouk spent more than $7 million on the education of his four children in Switzerland. According to the petition, the fees were allegedly paid upfront for extended periods, with no lawful source of income to justify such expenditure.
Dangote claimed that Farouk abused his office in violation of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers and engaged in corrupt enrichment and unlawful spending of public funds running into millions of dollars. He further alleged that the funds used for the children’s education were diverted from public resources.
The businessman provided details of the children involved, the schools they attend in Switzerland, and the amounts allegedly paid for each, urging the ICPC to verify the claims.
He also accused the NMDPRA boss of using his position to embezzle and divert public funds for personal gain, actions he said had triggered public outrage and protests in recent times.
According to Dangote, Farouk has spent his entire working life in public service and could not have legitimately accumulated funds close to the alleged amount based on his official earnings alone.
Dangote argued that the alleged actions amount to abuse of office, breach of the Code of Conduct, corrupt enrichment, and embezzlement, offences which fall under the powers of the ICPC to investigate and prosecute. He noted that such offences carry a possible five-year prison sentence without the option of a fine.
He expressed confidence in the ability of the ICPC and other anti-corruption agencies to handle the matter professionally and urged the Commission to act decisively, stressing that the allegations are already in the public domain.
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Dangote also pledged to provide evidence to support his claims and said decisive action by the ICPC would help uphold justice and protect the image of the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
The allegations follow earlier public comments made by Dangote at a press briefing in Lagos, where he raised concerns about regulatory failures and alleged corruption in the downstream petroleum sector.
Similar accusations were raised against Farouk in June 2025 by protesters in Abuja, who called for his resignation over claims of abuse of office. The NMDPRA has, however, denied all allegations, describing them as false and part of a coordinated smear campaign against its leadership.
