Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has escalated his feud with Nigeria’s petroleum regulator, formally petitioning the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to arrest and prosecute Farouk Ahmed, CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

Dangote accuses Ahmed of corruption, abuse of office, and unlawful enrichment through alleged diversion of public funds.

The petition, submitted Tuesday by Dangote’s counsel Ogwu Onoja (SAN) and received by ICPC Chairman Musa Aliyu (SAN), alleges Ahmed spent more than $7 million on secondary and tertiary education for his four children in elite Swiss boarding schools—an amount Dangote claims is far beyond legitimate earnings from a lifetime in public service.

Details from the Petition

• Faisal Farouk — Montreux School (6 years)
• Farouk Jr. — Aiglon College (6 years)
• Ashraf Farouk — Institut Le Rosey (6 years)
• Farhana Farouk — La Garenne International School (6 years)

Dangote estimated total secondary costs at $5 million, plus $2 million for tertiary education (four years at $125,000 annually per child), and $210,000 for one son’s 2025 Harvard MBA (including tuition and upkeep).

The businessman contrasted these figures with hardship in Ahmed’s home state of Sokoto, where parents struggle to pay N10,000 school fees, and with his own decision to educate his children locally. He pledged to publish receipts if denied and pursue legal compulsion on the schools for disclosure.

Broader Allegations

Dangote accused Ahmed of using NMDPRA to “embezzle and divert public funds for personal gain,” fueling public outrage and protests. He cited Section 19 of the ICPC Act, which prescribes five years’ imprisonment without the option of a fine for corrupt enrichment.

The petition follows Dangote’s weekend press conference, where he alleged sabotage of his refinery operations through the issuance of import licences despite domestic refining capacity. Analysts say the petition represents both a legal escalation and a political gambit, framing the refinery as a “national asset” under attack by entrenched interests.

The NMDPRA has not yet responded to the latest petition. Dangote urged the ICPC to act decisively to “uphold justice and protect the administration’s image.”