– Petitions ICPC
Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote has called on the Federal Government to investigate and prosecute the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed, over allegations of lavish personal spending.
Dangote submitted a petition against the NMDPRA boss to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.
Dated and submitted on December 16 through his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, SAN, Dangote, in the petition, called on the ICPC to arrest, investigate and prosecute the NMDPRA boss for allegedly living far beyond his legitimate means as a public servant.
The petition was received by the office of the ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu.
Dangote alleged that Ahmed spent $5 million of public funds to cover tuition fees for his children in Switzerland, raising serious concerns about fiscal impropriety and governance in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.
“Spending $5 million on private schooling while leading a public agency responsible for regulating downstream petroleum raises questions about conflicts of interest, economic sabotage, and the integrity of our energy sector,” Dangote said.
The industrialist warned that such actions undermine public trust, distort regulatory priorities, and threaten national revenue, stressing the need for accountability.
“This is not a matter of private wealth—it is taxpayers’ money. The government must investigate, and where culpability is proven, prosecute accordingly,” Dangote added.
Dangote’s revelation aligns with growing concerns among stakeholders about transparency and governance in regulatory agencies overseeing Nigeria’s $100 billion downstream petroleum industry.
Dangote also highlighted that the alleged spending reflects broader systemic weaknesses in oversight, calling for reforms to prevent recurrence.
“This is about ensuring that leadership in critical national agencies is exercised with integrity, and that public funds are used responsibly to serve the Nigerian people,” he said.
Industry analysts note that the allegations could trigger scrutiny of NMDPRA’s financial management and procurement processes, with potential implications for regulatory credibility and investor confidence.
The federal government has not yet responded to Dangote’s call, but the allegations are expected to dominate policy and governance discussions in the downstream petroleum sector in the coming weeks.
