The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is set to investigate a petition filed by Aliko Dangote, Chairman of the Dangote Group, against the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, in a development that has escalated tensions in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Dangote, through his lawyer Ogwu Onoja (SAN), lodged the petition on December 16, 2025, urging the ICPC to probe, prosecute and, if necessary, arrest Ahmed over alleged corruption and financial impropriety. The petition claims that Ahmed spent more than $7 million on the education of his four children in Switzerland – fees reportedly paid upfront for a six‑year period – without any lawful source of income to justify such expenditure.
In the petition, Dangote accused Ahmed of abusing his office and breaching the Code of Conduct for Public Officers by using public funds for personal benefit, including paying the alleged school fees. The billionaire provided details of the children and the Swiss schools they attend, urging the ICPC to verify the figures and allegations.
The ICPC has confirmed receipt of the petition, with its spokesperson John Odey saying the matter will be duly investigated. This marks a formal escalation in a feud that has drawn public attention and sparked protests by civil society groups.
However, a coalition of 40 lawyers under Lawyers in Defence of Democracy and Anti‑Corruption has condemned Dangote’s claims as unfounded and a “malicious media trial,” warning that such tactics could undermine investor confidence and the rule of law. Supporters of Ahmed argue that regulatory efforts were aimed at promoting competition and transparency in the petroleum sector.
The controversy underscores growing friction between regulators and major industry players, with the probe expected to test Nigeria’s anti‑corruption framework and governance in the downstream oil industry.
