The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has asked billionaire industrialist, Aliko Dangote, to personally appear before it to adopt a corruption petition he filed against the former Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed.
Dangote had petitioned the commission, accusing Ahmed of fraud, including allegations that he spent over $7 million of public funds on the education of his four children in Switzerland. Ahmed has not publicly responded to the allegations.
In a letter dated 24 December 2025 and addressed to Dangote’s lawyer, Dr Ogwu Onoja (SAN), the ICPC said the nature of the petition required the complainant to personally adopt it.
Onoja had earlier visited the ICPC on 22 December to adopt the petition on his client’s behalf.
However, the commission said the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, does not permit proxy representation in matters that may result in criminal prosecution.
The letter, signed by the Chief of Staff to the ICPC Chairman, Rouqayya Ibrahim, stated that personal adoption of the petition was necessary to ensure procedural integrity and admissibility should the matter proceed to court.
The ICPC therefore requested Dangote to appear at its headquarters on 29 December 2025 at 10:00 a.m. to formally adopt the petition.
Dangote’s petition is coming against the backdrop of a long-running dispute between his refinery business and the petroleum sector regulator.
