The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has announced it will commence a formal investigation into the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed. This follows a detailed petition filed by Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote, which accuses the regulator of serious financial misconduct and abuse of office.
Dangote's Explosive Allegations
Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, publicly levelled accusations of corruption against Farouk Ahmed during a press conference in Lagos on Sunday, December 14, 2025. The billionaire businessman claimed that the NMDPRA CEO spent approximately $5 million on the secondary school education of his four children in Switzerland, an amount he stated is impossible to reconcile with Ahmed's legitimate public service earnings.
By Tuesday, December 16, Dangote had escalated the matter, submitting a formal petition to the ICPC through his lawyers. The petition, later confirmed by the anti-graft agency's spokesman, John Odey, contained even more specific and heightened allegations. It stated that Ahmed spent over $7 million of public funds upfront for a six-year period to educate his children in various Swiss schools, without evidence of a lawful source for such income.
To substantiate his claims, Dangote provided the ICPC with the names of Ahmed's four children, the specific Swiss institutions they attend, and the exact amounts paid for each. The petition argued that these actions constitute abuse of office, breach of the Code of Conduct, corrupt enrichment, and embezzlement, offences punishable under Section 19 of the ICPC Act.
Legislative Branch Joins the Fray
In a parallel development, the House of Representatives has also resolved to launch its own investigation into the NMDPRA boss. This legislative probe, triggered by a motion from Midala Usman, will focus on two critical issues: the alleged multi-million dollar tuition payments and the indiscriminate issuance of petrol import licenses despite the availability of locally refined products from the Dangote Refinery.
Lawmaker Usman warned that the ongoing dispute between the NMDPRA and Dangote Refinery, if unresolved, could escalate into a fuel supply crisis during the Yuletide season and beyond. He emphasised that the Dangote Refinery is a strategic national asset designed to end Nigeria's dependence on imported petrol, conserve foreign exchange, and stabilise domestic supply.
Usman lamented the absence of a transparent petrol pricing framework, which he said leads to arbitrary decisions and market distortions harming Nigerian consumers. He stressed that regulatory uncertainty and pricing opacity undermine energy security and investor confidence.
Implications and Next Steps
The ICPC has officially acknowledged receipt of the petition and pledged that "the petition will be duly investigated." Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has mandated its Committees on Petroleum Resources (Midstream and Downstream) to investigate the root causes of the regulatory dispute and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
This dual-pronged investigation by both the executive anti-corruption agency and the legislative arm of government highlights the severe nature of the allegations. The case puts a spotlight on the conduct of a key regulator in Nigeria's vital petroleum sector at a time when the country is striving to achieve self-sufficiency in refining. The outcomes of these probes could have significant ramifications for governance, regulatory integrity, and the business climate in Nigeria's energy industry.
