The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has told Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, to appear personally to adopt his corruption allegation petition.

The business mogul filed a petition before the agency against the former Chief Executive of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Alhaji Farouk Ahmed, alleging fraud.

The agency said the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, does not allow proxy representation on criminal matters.

It gave Dangote December 29 deadline to appear before it.

Reports said the anti-graft commission conveyed its decision to Dangote’s lawyer, Dr. Ogwu Onoja (SAN), through a December 24 letter.

Onoja had, on December 22, gone to the ICPC office to adopt the petition.

But in a letter to Onoja by the Chief of Staff to ICPC Chairman, Rouqayya Ibrahim, the commission said it is necessary for Dangote to come in person.

The letter reads in part: “The commission acknowledges the appearance of your good self…, wherein you adopted the petition in respect of the allegations made against Engr. Farouk Ahmed on behalf of your client, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

“While the commission appreciates your representation, we are constrained to draw your attention to the fact that the matter under investigation is criminal in nature, being conducted pursuant to the provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

“As you are aware, criminal investigations may culminate in criminal proceedings before a court of competent jurisdiction.

“In such circumstances, the statement and personal adoption of the petition by the complainant may be required to be tendered in court as part of the evidentiary process.

“It is, therefore, essential for purposes of procedural integrity and admissibility, that Alhaji Aliko Dangote personally adopts his petition before the commission.

“Accordingly, we respectfully request that you kindly facilitate the appearance of Alhaji Aliko Dangote at the Commission’s Headquarters on 29th December 2025 at 10am, for the purpose of formally adopting his petition. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation.”

Dangote had alleged that Ahmed spent over $7million of public funds on his four children’s education at elite Swiss schools, with fees paid upfront for up to six years.

He alleged: “That Engr Farouk Ahmed spent without evidence of lawful means of income humongous amount of money of over $7million of public funds, for the education of his four children in different schools in Switzerland for a period of six years upfront.”

The cold war between Dangote and the petroleum regulator had resulted in a N100billion suit.

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE filed a N100 billion lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging import licences issued by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and others, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

The refinery accused the regulator of granting licences to import refined petroleum products despite domestic production capacity.

It alleged that the action of the regulator violated some sections of the Petroleum Industry Act.

But the suit, FHC/ABJ/CS/1324/2024, was discontinued in July by Dangote’s lawyers.

ICPC’s petition guidelines say: “Any person anywhere in the world may make a complaint against any other person (corporate or non-corporate) in Nigeria, where reasonable grounds exist for suspecting that such a person has conspired to commit or attempted to commit or has committed an offence under the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

The United States carried out airstrikes against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria at the request of Nigeria’s government, U.S. President Donald Trump and the U.S. military said on Thursday, claiming the group had been targeting Christians in the region.

“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

His post went on to say U.S. defence officials had “executed numerous perfect strikes.”

The U.S. military’s Africa Command said on X that the strikes were conducted at the request of Nigerian authorities and killed multiple ISIS militants in Sokoto state.

U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on X thanked the Nigerian government for its support and co-operation and added: “More to come…Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation,” before signing off, “Merry Christmas!”

Nigeria’s foreign ministry said early Friday morning local time that precision air strikes hit “terrorist targets” in the country’s northwest. It added that it remains engaged with Washington in “structured security cooperation.”

The strikes come after Trump began warning in late October that Christianity faces an “existential threat” in Nigeria. He threatened military intervention in the West African country over what he said was its failure to stop violence targeting Christian communities.

Reuters reported on Monday that the U.S. had been conducting intelligence-gathering flights over large parts of Nigeria since late November.

Nigeria’s government has said armed groups target both Muslims and Christians, and U.S. claims that Christians face persecution do not represent a complex security situation and ignore efforts to safeguard religious freedom. But it has agreed to work with the U.S. to bolster its forces against militant groups.

Source: CBC

The Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of bias in the crisis rocking the party.

Reacting to a letter from the party explaining why it would not recognise the leadership of the faction, its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, accused the electoral umpire of working closely with those who want to kill the party.

Comrade Ememobong alleged that the commission failed to, or refuse to file documents that were in their possession and within their knowledge, obviously to aid those who are bent on killing the PDP, and truncate Nigeria’s democracy.

He reminded the Commission of the recent Supreme Court judgment in the case of Social Democratic Party which provides that the Commission has no business in the internal affairs of political party, including their leadership.

The statement read, “The leadership of the Peoples’ Democratic Party reiterates that in law and fact, there is no faction in the Peoples’ Democratic Party. This reiteration is necessary in the light of the INEC letter explaining their inability to recognise and upload the data of our legitimately elected leadership at the convention in Ibadan due to judgments of the Federal High Court.

“The said judgments have been appealed and an application for the stay of execution filed against the judgments, and very soon the Court of Appeal will hear and give judgment in the matters.

“While that is being awaited, it is needful to state that INEC monitored and participated in the National Executive Committee meetings where the convention date and venue were unanimously agreed and was also in receipt of the notice of the convention – a fact the Commission has unconscionably suppressed in court in several cases.

“Furthermore, the primaries in Ekiti and Osun were duly monitored by INEC, with communication emanating from the Turaki-led NWC. While we appreciate the monumental pressure that INEC has come under (after all he who pays the piper dictates the tune), we remind them that their constitutional responsibility is primarily to Nigerians and in the defence and protection of democracy.

“While INEC claims to be neutral and is awaiting the Judgment of the court on the matter, we hope that they are minded by the judgments of the Supreme Court, especially in the SDP case, being the latest delivered last week, barring INEC from interfering in the internal leadership affairs of political parties.

“The truth remains that there is no faction in the PDP as all the legitimate organs and the administrative structure of the Party are under the control of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki SAN. In the past one month the Board of Trustees, Governors Forum, State Chairmen, Senate and House of Representatives Caucuses, former Governors and Ministers and many other notable stakeholder groups have all met with and acknowledged the leadership of the current National Working Committee, led by Turaki SAN. INEC must remember that democracy is hinged on majority rule, so the committee of friends of Wike and Anyanwu cannot be validly referred to as a faction of the PDP.

“Finally, having held a meeting with the Commission last week, and our correspondence, thereafter, further explaining relevant issues relating to the current situation, we should ordinarily not respond to this letter, except to point out the hypocrisy and consistent bias that has completely coloured the action of the electoral umpire.

“INEC has continuously shown bias in this matter, even in the court, where they failed or refused to file documents that were in their possession and within their knowledge, obviously to aid those who are bent on killing the PDP and truncating democracy.

“If INEC under the leadership of Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN knew the matter was in court, what was the rationale for the contrived meeting of Friday last week? Except to paint a false perception of faction to justify their actions and inactions.

“We therefore urge all Nigerians, particularly, our members to remain calm, resolute and continue to support the rebirth and renaissance moves of the party, as we reposition the party for electoral success in the coming elections.”