Dangote Petitions ICPC Against NMDPRA CEO Over Alleged $7m Tuition Payments, House of Reps Orders Probe
Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has intensified his allegations of corruption and economic sabotage against the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr. Farouk Ahmed, by formally petitioning the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The petition, filed through his counsel, Chief Ogwu Onoja (SAN), accuses Ahmed of expending over $7 million on the education of four of his children in Switzerland, allegedly without any lawful source of income to justify such expenditure. Dangote urged the ICPC to arrest, investigate, and prosecute Ahmed for offences bordering on abuse of office, corrupt enrichment, and financial impropriety, citing Section 19 of the ICPC Act.
Confirming receipt of the petition, ICPC spokesperson John Odey stated: “The petition will be duly investigated.”
Meanwhile, Ahmed has denied issuing any public statement in response to the allegations, describing a viral social media release attributed to him as false. In a disclaimer personally signed, he noted: “While I am aware of the wild and spurious allegations made against me and my family, I have opted not to engage in public brickbats. Thankfully, the matter has been taken to a formal investigative institution, which provides an opportunity to distil the issues and clear my name.”
In parallel, the House of Representatives has resolved to investigate Ahmed over the alleged tuition payments and the indiscriminate issuance of petrol importation licences despite local availability. The resolution followed a motion moved by Hon. Midala Usman, who warned that unresolved disputes between the NMDPRA and the Dangote Refinery could trigger fuel supply disruptions, pricing volatility, and erode investor confidence in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.
Usman stressed that the Dangote Refinery represents a strategic national investment capable of ending Nigeria’s dependence on imported petrol, conserving foreign exchange, and stabilising domestic supply. He argued that regulatory opacity and arbitrary pricing decisions undermine energy security and consumer protection, necessitating urgent legislative intervention.
The House has mandated its Committees on Petroleum Resources (Midstream and Downstream) to investigate the matter and report within four weeks.
Dangote, in his petition, further alleged that Ahmed had corruptly enriched himself by diverting public funds for private use, contrary to the Code of Conduct for public officers. He expressed confidence in the ICPC’s capacity, alongside other anti‑corruption agencies, to prosecute financial crimes and uphold justice, stressing that decisive action would protect the integrity of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
