Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: Farouk Ahmed

  • ICPC Says Probe of Ex-NMDPRA Chief Continues Despite Dangote Petition Withdrawal

    ICPC Says Probe of Ex-NMDPRA Chief Continues Despite Dangote Petition Withdrawal

    Observations made by Premium Times show the ICPC says it will continue investigating allegations linked to the former head of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, even after the Dangote Group reportedly withdrew its complaint.

    The commission said its mandate allows it to pursue potential systemic wrongdoing irrespective of a petitioner’s withdrawal, especially where public interest is implicated.

    The inquiry is expected to examine records and decisions linked to the regulator’s tenure in the oil and gas space.

    **Echotitbits take:** This stance reinforces the idea that anti-corruption isn’t a private dispute to be settled quietly. Watch for legal actions if investigators identify evidence strong enough to sustain prosecution.
    Source: Guardian — https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/metro/icpc-confirms-probe-of-ex-nmdpra-boss-continues-despite-dangote-withdrawal/ 2026-01-08

    Photo Credit: Guardian

  • ICPC summons Dangote as petition over alleged $7m school-fees spending enters probe phase

    ICPC summons Dangote as petition over alleged $7m school-fees spending enters probe phase

    Photo Credit: The Nations
    2025-12-21 08:30:00

    In an update published by The Nation, the ICPC has invited Aliko Dangote in connection with his petition against the immediate past NMDPRA boss over allegations tied to public funds and overseas school fees.

    The report says the invitation is linked to preparations for a formal investigation panel, as the matter fuels debate about accountability in high-value regulatory offices.

    At the center is an allegation that more than $7 million was spent on children’s education abroad, prompting calls for a lifestyle and governance audit around the regulator.

    Premium Times confirmed Dangote “formally submitted a petition,” while ThisDay reported the petition “alleged that Ahmed spent over $7 million” on education-related expenses.

    Echotitbits take:
    High-profile petitions only matter if evidence is traceable. Watch for payment trails, asset declarations, and whether the probe expands into institutional controls that enabled the alleged spending.

    Source: The Nation — December 21, 2025 (https://thenationonlineng.net/icpc-invites-dangote-over-7m-school-fees-claim-against-ex-nmdpra-boss/)
    The Nation 2025-12-21

  • ICPC confirms receipt of Dangote petition against NMDPRA chief, says it will investigate

    ICPC confirms receipt of Dangote petition against NMDPRA chief, says it will investigate

    NMDPRA (as credited by Punch)
    2025-12-17

    The anti‑corruption agency ICPC says it has received a formal petition from billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote against the chief executive of Nigeria’s downstream regulator, the NMDPRA, amid an intensifying dispute over fuel imports and regulation.

    The petition escalates a broader public battle between Dangote’s refinery interests and the regulator over licensing and market rules, with significant implications for Nigeria’s fuel pricing, import dependence and local refining strategy.

    Regulatory credibility is on the line: allegations of misconduct, if substantiated, could trigger leadership changes and policy shifts; if unproven, the episode could still deepen mistrust in the governance of the downstream sector.

    The coming days will likely feature competing narratives, lobbying from marketers, and calls for transparent disclosure around licences, volumes and pricing benchmarks.

    ICPC: “it received a formal petition… The ICPC wishes to state that the petition will be duly investigated.”

    Reuters: “You don’t use imports to checkmate domestic potential,” Dangote told reporters.

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: This is now bigger than personalities — it’s a test of Nigeria’s downstream reform story. Watch for ICPC’s investigative steps, any interim actions, and whether government moves to calm market nerves around supply and pricing.

    Source: Punch — December 17, 2025 — https://punchng.com/petrol-battlefield-icpc-plans-nmdpra-boss-probe-after-dangote-petition/