The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has asked Aliko Dangote to appear before its panel of crack investigators on Monday in Abuja over a petition of alleged corruption he wrote against Ahmed Farouk, former Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA)
Current matters understands that the ICPC had set up a panel of crack investigators to handle the probe.
Dangote had accused Farouk of corruption and misappropriation of funds, including spending millions of dollars on his four children’s education in expensive and exclusive schools in Switzerland.
He also alleged that Farouk undermined domestic refining by colluding with international traders and oil importers through the continued issuance of import licences.
Farouk has since resigned his appointment, but the commission said it is going ahead with the investigation, stating that his resignation does not affect the probe.
In the petition , Dangote alleged that Farouk spent without evidence of lawful means of income amounting to over seven million dollars for the education of his four children in Switzerland.
He is demanding the arrest, investigation, and prosecution of Farouk for allegedly living above his means as a public servant.
ICPC spokesperson, John Okor Odey, confirmed that the ICPC received a formal petition on Dec. 16, from Dangote through his lawyer, against the former CEO of the NMDPRA.
Last week, President Bola Tinubu forwarded to the Senate the names of two nominees to head Nigeria’s key petroleum regulatory agencies, following the resignation of Farouk and the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe.
Farouk and Komolafe were appointed in 2021 by the late President Muhammadu Buhari to lead the two regulatory bodies.
Their replacement was contained in separate letters to the Senate by President Tinubu, who requested the expedite consideration and confirmation of Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan as Chief Executive Officer of the NUPRC and Saidu Mohammed as Chief Executive Officer of the NMDPRA.
