EFCC Launches Investigation Into Ex-NMDPRA Boss Farouk Ahmed Over Alleged $7M School Fund Misuse

Nigeria’s EFCC has begun probing former NMDPRA MD Farouk Ahmed following a petition by Aliko Dangote alleging misuse of public funds to pay $7 million for his children’s education in Switzerland. The anti-graft agency confirmed it is writing to institutions mentioned in the petition, including the Swiss school, before inviting Ahmed. The investigation follows Dangote’s withdrawal of a previous complaint to ICPC, with EFCC emphasizing standard procedures of verifying claims locally and internationally before confronting the accused.

#EFCCProbe #FaroukAhmed #DangotePetition

ICPC Rejects Dangote’s Petition Withdrawal, Continues Probe of Ex-NMDPRA Chief Farouk Ahmed

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed that it will continue investigating allegations of corruption against Engineer Farouk Ahmed, the former Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), despite the withdrawal of a petition by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote.

Dangote initially filed the petition in December 2025, accusing Ahmed of corruption, including the alleged misappropriation of public funds and spending approximately $5 million on his children’s education in Switzerland, despite lacking a verifiable lawful income to support such expenditure. The allegations sparked nationwide outrage and intensified scrutiny of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.

On January 5, 2026, Dangote’s legal team, led by Dr. O.J. Onoja, SAN, formally withdrew the petition, citing that another law enforcement agency had assumed responsibility for investigating the matter. However, the ICPC rejected the withdrawal, emphasizing that once a petition alleging corruption is received and an investigation commences, the process cannot be terminated at the discretion of the petitioner—particularly in cases of public interest and alleged abuse of office.

In a press statement, ICPC spokesperson Okor Odey stressed that the commission’s investigation would proceed in line with its statutory mandate to ensure transparency, accountability, and the fight against corruption in Nigeria. The ICPC also highlighted that the inquiry serves the interest of the Nigerian people and cannot be halted simply because the petitioner withdraws.

Following the accusations, Farouk Ahmed resigned from his position as NMDPRA Chief Executive, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed a successor. ICPC had earlier summoned Dangote to appear before a special panel of investigators in Abuja regarding his petition. Dangote had publicly criticized Ahmed’s alleged spending during a media briefing on December 14, 2025, highlighting the contrast between such expenditure and the economic struggles of ordinary Nigerians amid inflation and rising fuel prices.

The ICPC’s decision to continue its probe underscores the agency’s commitment to holding public officials accountable, regardless of a petitioner’s withdrawal, and signals a robust approach to anti-corruption enforcement in Nigeria.

President Tinubu Nominates Magnus Abe as NUPRC Chairman, Seeks Senate Confirmation for 21 Oil and Gas Board Members

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has submitted two letters to the Senate seeking confirmation of 21 nominees for boards of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

For the NUPRC, former senator Magnus Abe is nominated as chairman. Other nominees include seven executive commissioners covering finance, exploration, production, and corporate services, along with non-executive commissioners and a secretary/legal adviser. Some members were previously appointed under Presidents Buhari and Tinubu, while others are new nominations.

For the NMDPRA, Adegbite Ebiowei Adeniji, a lawyer with over 30 years in energy and natural resources, is nominated as chairman. The board also includes executive and non-executive members with expertise in finance, hydrocarbon, midstream and downstream infrastructure, and corporate administration.

The Senate has been urged to expedite confirmation following recent CEO confirmations for both agencies. President Tinubu emphasized that all appointees must perform their regulatory duties professionally to strengthen oversight of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

PRESIDENT TINUBU NOMINATES BOARD MEMBERS FOR NMDPRA, NUPRC, SEEKS SENATE CONFIRMATION

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has written two letters to the Senate, seeking confirmation of 21 nominees for the boards of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

A statement by Bayo Onanuga, special Adviser to the President, Information & Strategy, indicates that in the first letter, President Tinubu nominated Senator Magnus Abe to serve as the NUPRC board chair. Abe, who represented Rivers South East in the Senate for two terms, is a former NNPC board member and current chairman of the National Agency of the Great Green Wall.

Other nominees for the NUPRC board are Engineer Paul Yaro Jezhi, a former Trade Union Congress chairman in Kaduna, and Mr Sunday Adebayo Babalola, a former deputy director of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), which was abolished by the PIA in 2021. Both men will serve as non-executive commissioners.

President Tinubu also nominated executive commissioners to the board.

They are: Muhammed Sabo Lamido, executive commissioner for finance; Mr Edu Inyang, executive commissioner for Exploration and Acreage; Justin Ezeala, executive commissioner for economic regulation and strategic planning; and Henry Darlington Oki, executive commissioner for Development and Production. Others are Indabawa Bashari Alka, executive commissioner for corporate services and administration; Mahmood Tijani, executive commissioner for health, safety and environment; and Ms Olayemi Adeboyejo, as secretary and legal adviser.

Former President Buhari appointed Lamido and Adeboyejo in 2022, while President Tinubu appointed Alka in 2023. Inyang, Ezeala, the former managing director of Nigerian Gas Marketing Limited, Mahmood Tijani, Babalola and Jezhi are new appointees of President Tinubu.

In his second letter to the Senate, President Tinubu nominated Mr Adegbite Ebiowei Adeniji, a lawyer, as chairman of the NMDPRA board. Adeniji has over 30 years of experience in energy and natural resources issues. He was a special technical adviser to the Minister of State for Petroleum on upstream and gas until 2018. He was a member of the Oil & Gas Policy team at the World Bank, which advised the Government of Nigeria on the reform and restructuring of the petroleum sector, including the development of the Strategic Gas Plan for Nigeria. He is currently the managing partner at ENR Advisory.

President Tinubu also nominated Chief Kenneth Kobani and Mrs Asabe Ahmed as non-executive members. Kobani was a former minister of state for trade under President Jonathan and secretary to the government of Rivers State, under Nyesom Wike.

Also nominated for confirmation are Abiodun Adeniji, executive director of finance; Francis Ogaree, executive director of hydrocarbon; Oluwole Adama, executive director of midstream and Downstream gas infrastructure; and Dr Mustapha Lamorde, executive director of Corporate Services and Administration. President Tinubu appointed Adama in 2024, while late President Buhari appointed Lamorde and Adeniji in 2021 and Ogaree in 2022

Other members of the NMDPRA board, as proposed by President Tinubu, are Mr Yahaya Nasamu Yinusa, executive director, distribution systems; Adeyemi Murtala Aminu, executive director, corporate services; Ms Modie Ogechukwu, executive director, economic regulation and strategic planning; and Barrister Olawale Dawodu, as board secretary and legal adviser. Dawodu is an industry player and was, at a time, the Financial Reporting Manager at Exxon Nigerian subsidiaries.

The President urged the Senate to approve the nominees expeditiously.

The requests followed the recent appointment of chief executive officers for the two regulatory agencies. The Senate confirmed Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as CEO of NMDPRA.

Mr President has charged all the appointees and nominees to discharge their duties and responsibilities professionally as regulators of the oil and gas sectors.

Integrity Shock as ICPC Scores NNPC Zero, Ranks National Oil Company Bottom Despite Fresh Profits and Reform Claims

Nigeria’s anti-corruption watchdog, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has rated the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) zero in its 2025 Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard, placing it last among 357 federal ministries, departments and agencies assessed nationwide. The report found that NNPCL failed across all four integrity pillars—management culture, financial management, administrative systems, and anti-corruption mechanisms—classifying the national oil company as a high-risk institution. The outcome has intensified concerns over governance, transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, especially given NNPCL’s recent claims of improved profitability.
The ICPC report also revealed mixed results across petroleum regulators, with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) emerging as the top-performing agency, while the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NMDPRA) recorded weak compliance. Overall, only about 14% of federal agencies achieved substantial compliance, prompting the ICPC to signal tougher enforcement actions against persistently non-compliant institutions. Analysts warn that NNPCL’s zero score poses reputational risks and could undermine public trust and investor confidence unless urgent governance reforms are implemented.

ICPC Must Uphold Justice, Fairness, and Rule of Law

In this opinion piece, Muhammed Al-Ameen stresses the critical role of anti-corruption agencies like the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in Nigeria’s fragile democracy. He argues that these institutions are vital to maintaining the integrity of the state, and their independence is non-negotiable.

Independence and integrity of anti-graft agencies are essential; any political manipulation threatens democracy.

ICPC under Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN—a Senior Advocate of Nigeria—is increasingly seen as politically biased, ignoring court orders and engaging in selective justice.

Senior Advocates are expected to uphold the law and serve as examples, but ICPC’s leadership has allegedly disregarded judicial processes, undermining public trust.

Mishandling Aliko Dangote’s petition against Farouk Ahmed (NMDPRA), effectively defending the accused instead of conducting an impartial investigation.

Ignoring an interim injunction by Kano State High Court protecting ALGON members from harassment.


Such actions signal institutionalized lawlessness, where those knowledgeable of the law use it selectively for political purposes.


Recommendations:

Immediate intervention by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) regarding petitions against Dr. Aliyu.

ICPC must comply with all outstanding court orders and rid itself of political interference.

The Presidency and judiciary should ensure the ICPC functions as a neutral, accountable watchdog.


Al-Ameen concludes that ICPC’s credibility and Nigeria’s democratic integrity are at stake. The agency must choose between strengthening the rule of law or becoming a tool for political vendettas.

The piece calls for restoration of institutional sanity, fair enforcement of laws, and prioritizing the public’s interest over political expediency.

Tinubu Handled Sacking of Ex-NMDPRA Boss Farouk Ahmed Carefully to Avoid Northern Backlash – Sources Reveal

President Bola Tinubu reportedly managed the removal of former NMDPRA CEO Farouk Ahmed with caution to avoid offending Nigeria’s northern political power base, sources have revealed. Ahmed, a scion of the Sokoto Caliphate, was said to have been asked to resign through a presidential aide rather than confronted directly. His exit came amid corruption allegations by billionaire Aliko Dangote, alongside the removal of NUPRC boss Gbenga Komolafe. New regulatory chiefs have since been confirmed by the Senate as investigations and political calculations continue to trail the shake-up in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

EXCLUSIVE: NMDPRA CEO Saidu Aliyu Mohammed Linked to Kaduna Refinery Collapse

Saidu Aliyu Mohammed, recently confirmed as CEO of the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), has been linked to the collapse of the Kaduna Refinery, sources say. The Senate confirmed his appointment following screenings by the Joint Committees on Petroleum. Mohammed previously served as Managing Director of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and chaired boards of major NNPC subsidiaries. Industry insiders allege mismanagement under his leadership contributed to the refinery’s prolonged shutdown. Meanwhile, Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan was confirmed as CEO of the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). The appointments follow the resignations of Farouk Ahmed and Gbenga Komalafe, amid corruption allegations, notably by billionaire Aliko Dangote against Ahmed. Dangote’s claims included diversion of public funds and extravagant personal spending. Observers note the new regulators’ appointment is welcomed by Dangote, potentially increasing his influence over Nigeria’s petroleum sector.

ICPC Invites Aliko Dangote to Submit Evidence Against Ex-NMDPRA Boss Farouk Ahmed, Says Resignation Will Not Stop Corruption Probe

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has formally invited Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, to present documentary evidence supporting his corruption allegations against the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Alhaji Farouk Ahmed. The anti-graft agency stressed that Ahmed’s recent resignation does not affect the ongoing investigation, which is being treated as a matter of public interest. According to ICPC sources, a special panel of seasoned investigators has been constituted to handle the probe, with Dangote or his legal representative expected to adopt the petition and submit supporting documents. Dangote has accused Ahmed of abuse of office, illicit enrichment, diversion of public funds, and spending over $7 million on the education of his four children in Switzerland—expenses he claims cannot be justified by a public servant’s earnings. The ICPC said it would follow due process, isolate issues raised in the petition, and allow Ahmed to respond, warning that both proven corruption and frivolous petitions carry severe legal consequences under the ICPC Act. @

BREAKING NEWS: ICPC Invites Aliko Dangote to Provide Evidence in the investigation of Former NMDPRA Chief Farouk Ahmed

ICPC Invites Aliko Dangote Over Petition Against Ex-NMDPRA Boss Farouk Ahmed in Alleged $7 Million Corruption Scandal

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has invited Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, to provide evidence in support of his petition against the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed. Dangote accused Ahmed of corruption, misappropriation of public funds, and economic sabotage, alleging that over $7 million was spent on his children’s education in Switzerland. Despite Ahmed’s resignation, ICPC confirmed that a special panel of investigators has been constituted to probe the allegations in the public interest, as tensions continue over refinery licences and Nigeria’s petroleum sector regulation.

Senate Confirms Eyesan and Aliyu as CEOs of Nigeria’s Petroleum Regulators Amid Dangote’s Corruption Allegations

The Nigerian Senate has swiftly confirmed Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as CEO of the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as CEO of the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). The confirmation came within 24 hours of receiving President Bola Tinubu’s letter. The appointments follow the resignations of the former heads and coincide with billionaire Aliko Dangote’s petition against the former NMDPRA chief, Farouk Ahmed, accusing him of corruption, abuse of office, and illicit enrichment, including spending over $7 million on his children’s education abroad. The confirmations allow Eyesan and Aliyu to immediately assume office, overseeing licensing, regulation, and revenue in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.

NEWS FLASH

SENATE CONFIRMS CEOs OF NUPRC AND NMDPRA

Senate has confirmed the appointment of Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as CEO of Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.

It also confirmed Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as CEO of Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Agency.

The appointments confirmed at plenary was sequel to the recommendation of the Joint committees on Petroleum Upstream, Downstream and Gas.

President Tinubu appointed the Eyesan and Aliyu on Wednesday this week, to fill the vacancy created following the resignation of the erstwhile heads of the two Regulators.

The letter for the confirmation request from the President was transmitted to the senate on Thursday.

The confirmation process was expedited and done within 24 hours.

NBA Insists Corruption Probe Must Continue Despite NMDPRA CEO Farouk Ahmed’s Resignation

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has stated that the resignation of Farouk Ahmed, CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), should not halt the ongoing corruption investigation against him. NBA President Afam Osigwe (SAN) emphasized that allegations of forgery, false asset declarations, and other serious misconduct must be fully investigated to uphold accountability and strengthen public institutions. He warned that allowing officials to resign without scrutiny undermines governance, erodes public trust, and entrenches a culture of impunity. Osigwe stressed that resignation does not equate to exoneration, and credible investigations must continue regardless of political or administrative convenience.

Senate Set to Confirm Tinubu’s Nominees for NMDPRA and NUPRC as Urgency Provisions of Petroleum Industry Act Are Invoked

The Nigerian Senate is expected to confirm President Bola Tinubu’s nominees for the leadership of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) following their screening by the Committee of the Whole. Engineer Saidu Muhammad was nominated to head the NMDPRA, while Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan was named as Chief Executive of the NUPRC, after the resignation of the agencies’ former heads. Tinubu urged expedited confirmation, citing the urgency provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act and warning against a leadership vacuum in Nigeria’s sensitive oil and gas regulatory sector. The nominations come amid heightened scrutiny of the petroleum regulators, including corruption allegations against the immediate past NMDPRA chief.

Ahmed’s Fall, Dangote vs NMDPRA And Nigeria’s Rentier Oil System: How Vested Interests, Regulation Failures And Power Struggles Shape the Refinery Battle

In this opinion piece, Azu Ishiekwene examines the high-stakes confrontation between Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, and former NMDPRA boss Farouk Ahmed, framing it as a deeper clash between private capital and Nigeria’s entrenched rentier oil system. The article traces how Dangote’s $20bn refinery threatens decades-old fuel import rents, regulatory capture, and political patronage embedded in the petroleum sector. While Ahmed’s exit may appear as a victory for reform, Ishiekwene argues it could also represent a strategic reset to preserve elite control. The piece explores oil’s unique political power, regulatory failures under the Petroleum Industry Act, and the resistance faced by disruptors challenging Nigeria’s fuel import dependency and economic rents.

Ahmed’s Fall, Dangote vs NMDPRA And Nigeria’s Rentier Oil System: How Vested Interests, Regulation Failures And Power Struggles Shape the Refinery Battle

In this opinion piece, Azu Ishiekwene examines the high-stakes confrontation between Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, and former NMDPRA boss Farouk Ahmed, framing it as a deeper clash between private capital and Nigeria’s entrenched rentier oil system. The article traces how Dangote’s $20bn refinery threatens decades-old fuel import rents, regulatory capture, and political patronage embedded in the petroleum sector. While Ahmed’s exit may appear as a victory for reform, Ishiekwene argues it could also represent a strategic reset to preserve elite control. The piece explores oil’s unique political power, regulatory failures under the Petroleum Industry Act, and the resistance faced by disruptors challenging Nigeria’s fuel import dependency and economic rents.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointments of Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as the CEO of NUPRC and Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as the CEO of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

NMDPRA MD Farouk Ahmed Resigns Amid Corruption Allegations
Dangote had accused him of financial impropriety and asked the ICPC to probe him.

BREAKING: NMDPRA, NUPRC Bosses Resign; President Tinubu Nominates New Oil Regulators for Senate Confirmation Amid Dangote Corruption Allegations

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has submitted the names of new chief executives for Nigeria’s two key oil and gas regulatory agencies—the NUPRC and NMDPRA—to the Senate for expedited confirmation following the resignations of Gbenga Komolafe and Farouk Ahmed. The nominees are Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan for NUPRC and Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed for NMDPRA, both seasoned oil industry professionals. The announcement comes amid corruption allegations by Aliko Dangote against former NMDPRA boss Farouk Ahmed, accusing him of diverting public funds to finance his children’s education abroad and abusing his office for personal gain. The nominations are now pending Senate screening and confirmation.