The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is set to investigate allegations against Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), following a petition by Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group.
Gatekeepers News reports that Dangote, at a press conference in Lagos on Sunday, accused Ahmed of corruption, claiming the NMDPRA boss spent around $5 million on the secondary school education of his four children in Switzerland—an amount far exceeding his official income. He called for tax authorities to scrutinise the expenditure amid broader claims of refinery sabotage.
On Tuesday, the ICPC confirmed receipt of a formal petition from Dangote, submitted through his lawyer, alleging that Ahmed paid $7 million for his children’s education abroad.
“The ICPC wishes to state that the petition will be duly investigated,” the commission said in a statement, adding that the complaint details the names of the children, the Swiss schools attended, and the amounts paid for verification.
Dangote’s petition asserts that the alleged actions constitute abuse of office, breach of the Code of Conduct for public officers, corrupt enrichment, and embezzlement. “Any public officer who uses his office or position to gratify or confer any corrupt or unfair advantage upon himself or any relation shall be guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for five years without option of fine,” the petition stated.
House of Representatives Weighs In
In parallel, the House of Representatives has resolved to investigate Ahmed over the payment of millions of dollars in tuition fees abroad and the alleged indiscriminate issuance of petrol importation licenses, despite domestic availability.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion by Rep. Midala Usman, citing Sections 88(1) and (2) of the Constitution, which empower the National Assembly to probe agencies implementing laws it enacts. Usman noted that Section 29(3) of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 assigns NMDPRA responsibility for technical and commercial regulation of midstream and downstream petroleum operations.
He warned that unresolved disputes between NMDPRA and Dangote Refinery could escalate, potentially causing a fuel supply crisis during the Yuletide season. Usman described Dangote Refinery as a strategic national investment capable of reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported petrol, conserving foreign exchange, stabilising domestic supply, and moderating fuel prices.
“The absence of a clear, transparent, and consistently applied petrol pricing framework allows for arbitrary regulatory decisions and market distortions, to the detriment of Nigerian consumers,” Usman said.
The House subsequently directed its Committees on Petroleum Resources (Midstream and Downstream) to investigate the root causes of the dispute and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
This dual probe by the ICPC and the House signals heightened scrutiny of regulatory practices in Nigeria’s petroleum sector, amid ongoing tensions between statutory regulators and private refineries.
