Dangote to appear before ICPC over $7m school fees claim against ex-NMDPRA chief

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has opened an investigation into corruption allegations levelled by businessman Aliko Dangote against the immediate past Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Alhaji Farouk Ahmed.

As part of the investigation, the anti-graft agency has invited Dangote to appear before its investigators or be represented by his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja (SAN), to formally adopt and defend the petition he submitted. A special investigative panel has also been set up by the commission to handle the case.

Sources within the ICPC disclosed that Dangote has been asked to present documents and other supporting evidence to back his claims, in line with the commission’s procedures requiring petitioners to substantiate allegations made against public officials.

In the petition, Ahmed is accused of corruption, abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds, including an allegation that he spent more than $7 million on the education of his four children in Switzerland without any legitimate income to justify such expenditure.

Dangote also alleged that the former NMDPRA chief engaged in economic sabotage by undermining local refining capacity through the continued issuance of petroleum import licences, allegedly in collaboration with international traders and fuel importers.

The ICPC clarified that Ahmed’s resignation from office would not affect the investigation, stressing that the probe is being conducted in the public interest and will be pursued to its logical conclusion.

Upon the formal adoption of the petition, the commission is expected to streamline the allegations and invite Ahmed to respond, assuring that all parties involved will be accorded fair hearing.

The ICPC confirmed that it received the petition on December 16, 2025, and stated that the investigation would be conducted in line with the provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act.