Aliko Dangote, President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, has explained that his petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against the Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Ahmed Farouk, was prompted by alleged abuses of office linked to the proposed payment of over ₦200 billion in disputed bridging claims to oil marketers, a move he said raises serious questions about transparency, accountability, and the management of public funds in the downstream petroleum sector.
According to a press statement made available to select media platforms by the Dangote Group on Wednesday, the planned payment—reportedly covering legacy bridging claims for 2023, 2024, and 2025—has triggered mounting concern among economists and industry analysts over what they described as the absence of verifiable data to justify a significant portion of the claims.
Bridging claims are government reimbursements paid to oil marketers to offset the cost of transporting petroleum products from depots to different parts of the country in order to maintain uniform pump prices nationwide. However, analysts quoted in the statement argued that the policy has failed to deliver its intended benefits to consumers.
“The reality is that Nigerians hardly enjoy uniform pricing, as petroleum products are sold at higher rates in most parts of the country despite the payment of bridging claims,” the statement noted.
Quoting senior industry sources, the Dangote Group alleged that discrepancies between levies paid and claims submitted by marketers have reached alarming levels.
“In several instances, marketers submit bridging claims that do not correspond with the levies paid per litre, with discrepancies of up to 47 per cent,” the statement said.
It added that the regulator’s alleged inability to substantiate a large portion of the claims raised red flags about the integrity of the process.
“The current move to settle approximately ₦250 billion in legacy bridging claims, despite the regulator’s inability to provide empirical data to substantiate as much as 47 per cent of those claims against verified levies paid by depot owners and importers, strongly suggests the presence of irregular and potentially sinister practices,” a senior industry source was quoted as saying.
The statement further called for immediate intervention by oversight authorities.
“It is therefore imperative for the Auditor-General of the Federation to immediately halt the processing of all bridging claims until a comprehensive investigation and forensic audit are conducted to ensure that claims approved by the regulator accurately align with levies paid per litre,” the source added.
These developments come against the backdrop of a formal corruption petition filed by Dangote to the ICPC, in which he accused Farouk of abuse of office, corrupt enrichment, and unlawful diversion of public funds.
The anti-graft agency has since confirmed receipt of the petition and announced that investigations have commenced.
In the petition dated Tuesday and submitted through his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja (SAN), Dangote urged the ICPC to “arrest, investigate, and prosecute” Farouk, alleging that the NMDPRA chief lives far beyond his legitimate means as a public servant.
According to the petition received by the office of the ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu (SAN), Farouk allegedly spent more than $7 million on the education of his four children in Switzerland, purportedly paid upfront for six years, without any lawful income to justify such expenditure.
“That Engr. Farouk Ahmed has grossly abused his office contrary to the extant provisions of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers and, in doing so, enmeshed himself in monumental corruption and unlawful spending of public funds running into millions of dollars,” the petition stated.
It further alleged:
“That Engr. Farouk Ahmed spent, without evidence of lawful means of income, humongous sums of money in excess of seven million dollars of public funds on the education of his four children in different schools in Switzerland for a period of six years, paid upfront.”
Dangote reportedly provided the names of the four children, the Swiss schools they attend, and the specific amounts allegedly paid for each, to enable the ICPC to independently verify the claims.
The oil magnate further alleged that Farouk used the instrumentality of the NMDPRA to embezzle and divert public funds for personal gain and private interests—actions he said have fuelled public outrage and protests by various groups.
According to Dangote, Farouk has spent his entire adult working life in the Nigerian public sector and could not, based on his legitimate earnings, have accumulated funds anywhere near the alleged $7 million used to finance his children’s education abroad.
“It is without doubt that the above facts in relation to abuse of office, breach of the Code of Conduct for public officers, corrupt enrichment and embezzlement are gross acts of corrupt practices for which your Commission is statutorily empowered under Section 19 of the ICPC Act to investigate and prosecute,” Dangote stated.
He added that, upon conviction, the alleged offences attract a prison term of up to five years without an option of a fine.
Dangote expressed confidence in the ICPC and other anti-corruption agencies to act decisively once a prima facie case is established, stressing that the matter is already in the public domain.
He also urged the Commission to take firm action in order to safeguard public trust and the image of the administration of President Bola Tinubu, while pledging to provide documentary evidence to substantiate his allegations.
Meanwhile, the ICPC confirmed receipt of the petition in a statement by its spokesperson, John Okor Odey.
“The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) writes to confirm that it received a formal petition on Tuesday, 16 December 2025, from Alhaji Aliko Dangote through his lawyer. The petition is against the CEO of the NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed,” the statement read.
“The Commission wishes to assure the public that the petition will be duly investigated.”
