LAGOS, Nigeria — Aliko Dangote, chairman of Dangote Group, has petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to arrest, investigate and prosecute Ahmed Farouk, managing director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), over allegations of corrupt enrichment and abuse of office.
In a petition dated Dec. 16 and submitted through his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, SAN, Dangote alleged that Farouk lives far beyond his legitimate means as a public servant, citing claims that the NMDPRA boss spent more than $7 million on his children’s education in Switzerland.
Dangote said Farouk’s public-sector earnings could not justify such expenditure and urged the anti-graft agency to investigate the matter and prosecute if culpability is established. He provided details of the children involved and the schools attended, according to the petition.
“That Engr. Farouk Ahmed has grossly abused his office contrary to the extant provisions of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers and, in doing so, enmeshed himself in monumental corruption and unlawful spending of public funds running into millions of dollars,” the petition reads.
It further alleges that Farouk spent “without evidence of lawful means of income humongous amount of money of over seven million dollars of public funds, for the education of his four children in different schools in Switzerland for a period of six years upfront.”
Dangote also accused Farouk of using the instrumentality of the NMDPRA to embezzle and divert public funds for personal gain, actions he said have fueled public outrage and protests by various groups. He argued that Farouk has spent his entire adult working life in the Nigerian public sector and could not, based on legitimate earnings, have accumulated the alleged sums.
“It is without doubt that the above facts in relation to abuse of office, breach of the Code of Conduct for public officers, corrupt enrichment and embezzlement are gross acts of corrupt practices for which your Commission is statutorily empowered under Section 19 of the ICPC Act to investigate and prosecute,” Dangote said.
He added that upon conviction under the same provision, the offence attracts a prison term of five years without an option of a fine.
“That Engr. Farouk Ahmed has corruptly enriched himself with taxpayers’ money meant for public consumption and diverted it into private uses,” Dangote said. “Any public officer who uses his office or position to gratify or confer any corrupt or unfair advantage upon himself or any relation or associate … shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for five years without option of fine.”
Dangote expressed confidence in the ICPC, working with other anti-corruption agencies, to prosecute financial crimes once a prima facie case is established. He urged the commission to act decisively, noting that the allegations are already in the public domain, and said such action would help protect the image of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He also vowed to provide evidence to substantiate his claims of corrupt enrichment, abuse of office and impunity against the NMDPRA chief.
The petition was received by the office of the ICPC chairman, Musa Aliyu, SAN. The NMDPRA has previously denied similar allegations, describing them as a smear campaign.
Dangote had reiterated concerns about regulatory failures and alleged corruption in the downstream petroleum sector during a press briefing in Lagos on Sunday, warning that unresolved allegations would continue to undermine public trust and investor confidence.
In June 2025, similar allegations were raised against Farouk by protesters in Abuja, who marched to the offices of the attorney general of the federation, the Code of Conduct Bureau and the ICPC, demanding his resignation and alleging he had turned his office into a personal estate.
