ICPC summons Aliko Dangote as probe into ex-NMDPRA boss Farouk Ahmed deepens

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has invited billionaire industrialist and Dangote Group Chairman, Aliko Dangote, to appear before a special investigative panel, as scrutiny intensifies over allegations against former Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) Chief Executive Officer, Farouk Ahmed.

The invitation follows a formal petition submitted by Dangote on December 16, 2025, through his legal counsel, Ogwu James Onoja (SAN), accusing Ahmed of “monumental corruption” and abuse of office.

A source close to the commission, speaking on Sunday in Abuja, confirmed that the ICPC has set up a dedicated team of investigators to examine the petition, with the agency’s Chairman, Dr Musa Aliyu (SAN), personally instructing that the allegations be a focal point of the inquiry.

Dangote is expected to either appear in person or send his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja (SAN), along with supporting evidence, as the commission formally commences its investigation.

The petition alleges that Ahmed lived “far beyond his legitimate means,” including spending millions of dollars on the education of his four children at elite schools in Switzerland. Dangote also accused the former regulator of undermining Nigeria’s domestic refining sector by colluding with international traders and oil importers through the continued issuance of import licences.

Following public scrutiny and the submission of Dangote’s petition, Ahmed resigned on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. President Bola Tinubu has since forwarded the name of Saidu Aliyu Mohammed to the Senate as his replacement.

The ICPC probe represents one of the highest-profile investigations into alleged corruption within Nigeria’s petroleum regulatory sector, drawing significant attention from both the private sector and the public.