NIGERIA: ICPC Confirms Receipt of Dangote’s Petition Against NMDPRA Chief

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed that it received a formal petition on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, from Alhaji Aliko Dangote against the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Alhaji Farouk Ahmed.

The anti-graft agency disclosed this in a media release issued on Tuesday and signed by the Spokesperson, ICPC, John Okor Odey, stating that the petition was submitted through Dangote’s legal representatives and would be subjected to due investigation.

The statement reads: “The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) writes to confirm that it received a formal petition today, Tuesday 16th December, 2025 from Alhaji Aliko Dangote through his lawyer. The petition is against the CEO of the NMDPRA, Alhaji Farouk Ahmed,”

The Commission further assured that the allegations contained in the petition would be thoroughly examined in line with its statutory mandate.

It noted: “The ICPC wishes to state that the petition will be duly investigated,”

The confirmation follows the circulation of a detailed document attributed to Dangote, which raised questions over the financial capacity of the NMDPRA chief to fund the foreign education of his children while serving as a public official.

The document, which details what it describes as tuition fees, living expenses, air travel and upkeep costs over a six-year period, raises questions about the source of the funds used for the education of the children of the senior public official.

According to the document, the four children allegedly attended elite Swiss secondary schools for six years each. The schools listed include Montreux School, Aiglon College, Institut Le Rosey, and La Garenne International School.

The breakdown estimates that each child incurred about $200,000 annually in tuition, air tickets and upkeep, amounting to $800,000 per year for the four children combined. It further estimates total living expenses and travel costs over six years at $1.2 million per child, bringing the cumulative figure to approximately $4.8 million.

The document places the total estimated cost of tuition and upkeep for the four children at $5 million over the six-year period.

In addition to the secondary education costs, the document also references alleged tertiary education expenses, claiming that one of the children, identified as Faisal Farouk, completed an MBA programme in 2025 at Harvard University, with estimated costs of $210,000, including tuition and upkeep.

The document argues that Nigerians deserve transparency regarding the source of such funds, particularly given the economic challenges facing many citizens, and calls for accountability from public office holders.

It also draws attention to the contrast between the alleged expenditure and the financial struggles of families in parts of the country, including Sokoto State, where many parents reportedly struggle to afford basic school fees.

The document was signed in the name of Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest businessman.

The ICPC’s confirmation marks the first official response by a government agency to the claims, signalling the commencement of a formal review process.

As of the time of filing this report, Alhaji Farouk Ahmed has not released an official response to the allegations.