A fresh controversy has erupted in Nigeria’s petroleum sector following a formal petition by Dangote Group Chairman, Aliko Dangote, to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against the Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Ahmed Farouk, over alleged corruption and abuse of office.
The petition, submitted on December 16 through Dangote’s lawyer, Ogwu Onoja (SAN), accuses the NMDPRA boss of living beyond his legitimate earnings as a public officer and calls for his investigation and prosecution. Dangote alleged that Farouk spent more than $7 million on the education of his four children in Switzerland over a six-year period, without any evidence of lawful income to support such expenditure.
According to the petition received by ICPC Chairman Musa Aliyu (SAN), Dangote provided details of the schools attended by Farouk’s children and the associated costs, urging the anti-graft agency to verify the claims. He argued that Farouk, having spent his entire adult working life in Nigeria’s public sector, could not have legitimately earned sums close to the amount allegedly spent on foreign education.
Dangote further alleged that public funds were diverted through the instrumentality of the NMDPRA for private gain, actions he claimed have contributed to public discontent and protests. He described the alleged conduct as a breach of the Code of Conduct for public officers, corrupt enrichment and embezzlement, offences punishable under Section 19 of the ICPC Act by up to five years’ imprisonment without an option of fine.
The industrialist stated that Nigerians deserve transparency, particularly at a time when many families struggle to afford basic education costs. He also pledged to present documentary evidence to support his claims and urged the ICPC to act decisively in the public interest.
The allegations were first made public by Dangote during a media interaction at the Dangote Refinery in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, where he questioned the source of Farouk’s wealth and contrasted the alleged expenditure with his own decision to educate his children in Nigeria. The claims were later published in a national daily before the formal petition was filed.
The dispute has since drawn the intervention of the House of Representatives, which has summoned both Dangote and the NMDPRA boss. The House Joint Committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream and Midstream) also directed both parties to suspend public commentary, warning that the escalating feud could destabilise the downstream petroleum sector.
Lawmakers explained that the summons is aimed at uncovering the root causes of the allegations and counter-allegations in order to restore stability and confidence in the sector. Both parties are expected to appear before the committees to provide clarity on the matter.
The clash between Dangote and the NMDPRA leadership is not new and dates back to the commencement of operations at the Dangote Refinery. The regulator had previously questioned the quality of products from local refiners and accused Dangote of attempting to dominate Nigeria’s energy market, claims the refinery owner has consistently denied.
As investigations and legislative interventions unfold, the unfolding saga is expected to have significant implications for regulatory credibility, investor confidence, and the future of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum industry.