The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has invited businessman, Aliko Dangote, to provide further information on his petition against the immediate past Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Alhaji Farouk Ahmed.
Dangote is expected to appear before the commission or be represented by his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja (SAN), on Monday, as the ICPC formally begins investigation into the petition.
The commission was said to have constituted a panel of senior investigators on Friday to handle the probe, according to information obtained at the weekend.
Sources disclosed that the ICPC has requested Dangote to submit materials and evidence in support of the allegations contained in the petition.
Dangote had accused Farouk of corruption and misappropriation of funds, alleging that millions of dollars were spent on the education of his four children at exclusive schools in Switzerland.
He also accused Farouk of economic sabotage, alleging that the former NMDPRA boss undermined domestic refining by collaborating with international traders and oil importers through the continued issuance of import licences.
Farouk has since resigned his position.
However, the commission said the investigation would continue despite his resignation.
“All is set for the investigation,” a senior ICPC said, according to The Nation.
“ICPC has set up a panel of crack investigators on Dangote’s petition. The Chairman of the commission, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN) asked the trusted team to stay action on a case and focus on Dangote’s petition. This underscores the importance attached to this case,” the source said.
“We have also invited Dangote or his lawyer to come on Monday to adopt the petition.
“Either of them is to present relevant documents or evidence to support the petition.
“He who alleges must prove or provide lead on the allegations which our investigators must act on.
“We have acknowledged the receipt of the petition in line with our guidelines or mandate to do so within 48 hours.”
Continuing, the source said: ”after formal adoption of the petition, we will isolate issues and ask Ahmed to respond to the allegations.
“We have been inundated with enquiries but I can assure you that ICPC will be fair to all the parties.”
Responding to further questions, the source added: “The resignation of Ahmed does not affect this probe which is in the public interest.”
“Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act (ICPC Act 2000) makes it an offence for any public officer to use his/her position to confer an unfair or corrupt advantage on himself, his relatives, associates, or other public officers. Anyone found guilty of any such offence is liable to five years imprisonment without the option of a fine.
“The enabling law also stipulates harsh punishment for individuals deemed to have wasted ICPC’s time and resources by making malicious or frivolous petitions against others.”
In the petition submitted on Tuesday through his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja (SAN), Dangote called for the arrest, investigation and prosecution of Farouk over allegations of living beyond his means as a public servant.
He accused Farouk of “spending without evidence of lawful means of income amounting to over $7 million for the education of his four children” in Switzerland.
The petition reportedly listed the names of the children, their schools and specific amounts paid for verification.
“Engr Farouk Ahmed spent without evidence of lawful means of income humongous amount of money of over $7million of public funds, for the education of his four children in different schools in Switzerland for a period of six years upfront,” Dangote alleged.
“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 constitute gross acts of corrupt practices, for which ICPC is statutorily empowered under section 19 of the ICPC Act to investigate and prosecute,” Dangote added.
Tensions between Dangote and petroleum sector regulators had earlier resulted in a N100 billion lawsuit.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE had filed a N100 billion suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja challenging the issuance of import licences by the NMDPRA and other agencies, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
The refinery accused the regulator of issuing licences for the importation of refined petroleum products despite existing domestic refining capacity.
It also alleged that the actions of the regulator contravened provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1324/2024, was later withdrawn in July 2025 by Dangote’s legal team.
ICPC petition guidelines state that: “Any person anywhere in the world may make a complaint against any other person (corporate or non-corporate) in Nigeria, where reasonable grounds exist for suspecting that such a person has conspired to commit or attempted to commit or has committed an offence under the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
●Complaint/petition is made through oral/written report submitted through post, physically to any ICPC office in Nigeria.
*A complaint made orally or by an illiterate shall be reduced into writing and read over to the complainant by an officer of the Commission.
●The report shall set out details of the complaint, date, time and place where the offence was allegedly committed.
●The complainant shall provide the names and addresses, phone number, email and other relevant information that may assist the Commission in locating the person or persons against whom the complaint is made.
●The complainant shall state his/her full address, email or phone number or any other information that will assist the commission in contacting him/her, whenever necessary.
●Reports can also be made online through any of the commission’s reporting platforms.
●The commission shall acknowledge receipt of any petition within 48 hours.”
Confirming the development, ICPC spokesperson, John Okor Odey, said the commission “received a formal petition on Tuesday, 16th December, 2025 from Alhaji Aliko Dangote through his lawyer. The petition is against the CEO of the NMDPRA, Alhaji Farouk Ahmed. The ICPC wishes to state that the petition will be duly investigated.”
