Dangote petition: ICPC begins probe as NMDPRA boss disowns ‘fake’ response, denies corruption claims

The Nigerian downstream petroleum sector was plunged into fresh controversy on Wednesday as Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), disowned a statement circulating in his name amid confirmation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) that it has commenced action on a petition filed against him by billionaire industrialist, Aliko Dangote.

In a disclaimer issued early Wednesday, Ahmed said the statement purportedly responding to allegations made by Dangote did not emanate from him. He explained that, as a regulator in a sensitive sector, he had deliberately avoided public exchanges despite what he described as “wild and spurious allegations” against him and his family.

“My attention has been drawn to a purported response I was said to have made on the recent allegations against my person. I hereby state categorically that the so-called statement did not emanate from me,” Ahmed said.

“While I am aware of the wild and spurious allegations made against me and my family and the frenzy it has generated, as a regulator of a sensitive industry, I have opted not to engage in public brickbat.

“Thankfully, the person behind the allegations has taken it to a formal investigative institution. I believe that would provide an opportunity to dispassionately distil the issues and to clear my name.”

The clarification came as the ICPC confirmed receipt of a petition submitted by Dangote on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, through his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja (SAN), seeking Ahmed’s investigation, arrest and prosecution for alleged corruption and abuse of office.

Dangote, President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, accused Ahmed of economic sabotage, corruption and living far beyond his legitimate means. He alleged that the NMDPRA boss spent more than $7m on the education of his four children in Switzerland without any lawful source of income to justify such expenditure.

In the petition addressed to ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu, Dangote claimed Ahmed paid huge sums upfront for six years of secondary education for his children and additional millions for tertiary education abroad, including $210,000 allegedly paid for a 2025 Harvard MBA programme.

“That Engr Farouk Ahmed has grossly abused his office contrary to the extant provisions of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers and, by so doing, enmeshed himself in monumental corruption and unlawful spending of public funds running into millions of dollars,” the petition stated.

Dangote further alleged that Ahmed diverted public funds through the instrumentality of the NMDPRA, actions he said had undermined confidence in Nigeria’s petroleum sector. Citing Section 19 of the ICPC Act, he noted that a successful prosecution could attract a five-year jail term without the option of fine, and urged the anti-graft agency to act decisively, pledging to provide evidence to support his claims.

Confirming receipt of the petition, ICPC spokesperson, John Odey, said: “The ICPC wishes to confirm that it received a formal petition today from Alhaji Aliko Dangote through his lawyer against the CEO of the NMDPRA, Alhaji Farouk Ahmed. The petition will be duly investigated.”

The allegations have triggered strong reactions across the sector. A coalition of 40 lawyers under the aegis of Lawyers in Defence of Democracy and Anti-Corruption dismissed Dangote’s claims as baseless and a “media trial” aimed at tarnishing Ahmed’s image without due process.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, the group’s National Coordinator, Emeka Okafor, said the allegations were reckless fabrications unsupported by evidence and warned against attempts to intimidate regulators discharging their statutory duties.

Similarly, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) condemned what it described as a smear campaign against the NMDPRA boss, stressing that regulatory institutions must not be coerced or blackmailed to serve corporate interests.

Over 50 civil society organisations also rejected the allegations, describing them as a calculated attempt to discredit the NMDPRA over its perceived anti-monopoly stance in the downstream petroleum sector.

Industry stakeholders equally weighed in, with the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) passing a vote of confidence in Ahmed’s leadership. The association warned that sustained public attacks on regulators could erode investor confidence and destabilise the downstream sector.

PETROAN also urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene to resolve what it described as a deepening cold war between Dangote Refinery and the NMDPRA, warning that unresolved disputes over pricing, import licences and labour issues could lead to supply disruptions and market instability.

The face-off is the latest chapter in mounting tensions between Dangote Refinery and the NMDPRA since the commencement of phased operations at the Lekki-based refinery, with disagreements over import licences, crude supply access, pricing transparency and the role of domestic refineries in meeting Nigeria’s fuel demand.

While Dangote’s petition has now triggered formal ICPC action, Ahmed insists that due process will ultimately clear his name, as legal experts and civil society groups continue to stress the presumption of innocence and the need to resolve disputes within established institutional frameworks.