Business
‘Will Be Fully Investigated,’ ICPC Says As Dangote Petitions Against NMDPRA Boss Farouk Ahmed
confirmed receipt of a formal petition from billionaire industrialist
Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has confirmed receipt of a formal petition from billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote against the chief executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Alhaji Farouk Ahmed.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the commission said the petition was submitted through Dangote’s lawyer and received on December 16, 2025, adding that it would be duly investigated in line with its mandate.
The move follows public allegations earlier raised by Dangote, who had openly detailed his concerns before formally approaching the commission. He first brought the matter to public attention during a press conference on Sunday, December 14, where he questioned aspects of regulatory decisions and actions affecting the downstream petroleum sector and made personal allegations against the NMDPRA Chief Executive.
His remarks immediately triggered widespread debate within industry circles and on social media, intensifying scrutiny of the regulator’s leadership.
Dangote, whose business interests include Africa’s largest petroleum refinery, has been at the centre of ongoing conversations around fuel supply, pricing, and regulatory oversight since the removal of petrol subsidy and the restructuring of Nigeria’s oil and gas framework. The public nature of his accusations against Ahmed Farouk added weight to the issue and appeared to set the stage for the formal petition now before the ICPC.
While details of the allegations have not been made public by the commission, the confirmation of the petition signals that the matter has moved beyond public exchanges into an official investigative process. The ICPC said it would handle the petition in accordance with the law.
The commission’s spokesperson, John Okor Odey, declined further comment, noting that investigations would proceed through established procedures.
