The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has formally summoned Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote, to provide evidence supporting his explosive corruption allegations against the immediate past head of a key petroleum regulator.
Dangote's Allegations and ICPC's Swift Action
In a significant development, the ICPC has requested Dangote's appearance or that of his senior advocate, Ogwu Onoja (SAN), to formally adopt his petition. The businessman is expected to present relevant documents to back his claims against the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Alhaji Farouk Ahmed.
The commission has already constituted a panel of crack investigators to handle the case. A highly placed source within the ICPC confirmed that the Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), directed a trusted team to prioritize this investigation, underscoring its seriousness.
The core of Dangote's petition, filed on Tuesday through his lawyer, accuses Farouk Ahmed of egregious misuse of public office. He alleged that the former regulator spent a staggering sum exceeding $7 million of public funds to finance the overseas education of his four children at exclusive schools in Switzerland. The payment was reportedly made upfront to cover a six-year period.
Probe Proceeds Despite Resignation
Despite Farouk Ahmed's subsequent resignation from his position, authoritative sources at the anti-graft agency have made it clear that the investigation will proceed unabated. The ICPC emphasized that the resignation does not affect a probe deemed to be in the public interest.
The commission is invoking Section 19 of the ICPC Act 2000, which criminalizes a public officer using their position to confer any corrupt advantage on themselves or their relatives. Conviction under this section carries a mandatory five-year jail term without the option of a fine.
Beyond the educational expenses, Dangote's petition levels even graver charges. He accused the former NMDPRA boss of economic sabotage, alleging that Ahmed deliberately undermined Nigeria's domestic refining capacity. The petition claims he colluded with international oil traders by persistently issuing import licenses for refined petroleum products, contrary to the nation's interests.
Background of Regulatory Dispute
This corruption probe is the latest episode in an ongoing cold war between Dangote's conglomerate and the country's petroleum regulators. The tension had previously escalated into a N100 billion lawsuit filed by Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
That suit challenges the legality of import licenses issued by the NMDPRA and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), arguing they violate the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) given Nigeria's growing domestic refining capability.
Following Ahmed's resignation, President Bola Tinubu has moved to appoint Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as the new Chief Executive of the NMDPRA, aiming to stabilize the regulatory authority.
The ICPC has reiterated its commitment to a fair process, warning that malicious or frivolous petitions could attract punishment under the law. The nation now watches as one of its most prominent businessmen steps forward to substantiate grave allegations against a former top regulator, in a case that strikes at the heart of accountability in the critical oil and gas sector.
