The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has begun preliminary actions aimed at prosecuting allegations made by billionaire businessman, Aliko Dangote, against the immediate past Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Alhaji Farouk Ahmed, stressing that his resignation from office will not halt the investigation.
The anti-corruption agency has formally invited Dangote to appear before it, either in person or through his legal representative, Chief Ogwu Onoja (SAN), as it prepares to commence full investigation of the petition on Monday.
Sources within the commission disclosed that Dangote has been requested to submit documents and other materials to substantiate his claims, which include allegations of corruption, abuse of office, misappropriation of public funds, and the purported expenditure of several million dollars on the education of Ahmed’s four children in Switzerland.
It was also revealed that on Friday, the ICPC constituted a special panel of seasoned investigators to handle the case, underscoring the seriousness with which the commission is treating the petition. A senior source told The Nation that the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), directed the team to suspend work on another matter in order to focus fully on Dangote’s allegations.
The source confirmed that the commission had acknowledged receipt of the petition in line with its statutory guidelines and reiterated that Dangote or his lawyer would be required to formally adopt the petition and present supporting evidence. According to the ICPC, allegations must be backed by proof or credible leads to enable investigators to act.
The commission assured that due process would be strictly followed, adding that once the petition is adopted, the issues would be clearly outlined and Ahmed would be given the opportunity to respond.
Addressing concerns surrounding Ahmed’s resignation, the ICPC made it clear that the development would not affect the probe, emphasizing that the investigation is being carried out in the public interest.
The commission further cited Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, which criminalises the use of public office for personal or family gain and prescribes a five-year jail term without the option of a fine. It also warned against frivolous or malicious petitions, noting that such actions attract severe penalties under the law.
In his petition dated December 16 and addressed to the ICPC Chairman, Dangote accused Ahmed of corruption, illicit enrichment and abuse of office, calling for his arrest, investigation and prosecution. He alleged that Ahmed lived far beyond his legitimate earnings as a public servant, claiming that over $7 million was spent upfront on six years’ tuition for his four children in Switzerland.
Dangote reportedly provided details of the children, their schools and the amounts paid, urging the ICPC to verify the information and establish what he described as clear evidence of corrupt enrichment. He further accused Ahmed of diverting public funds for personal use and using the regulatory authority to advance private interests at the expense of Nigerians.
According to Dangote, the alleged misconduct has sparked public outrage and protests nationwide. He maintained that Ahmed’s lifetime earnings could not lawfully justify such expenditure and insisted that the funds used were diverted from public resources.
Dangote said he was ready to personally appear before investigators to present documentary evidence in support of his claims. The allegations first became public during a media interaction at the Dangote Refinery in Lekki, Lagos, where he accused Ahmed of frustrating local refining through the continued issuance of fuel import licences.