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Tag: ICPC

  • Housing Ministry, ICPC launch nationwide hunt for abandoned, substandard constituency projects

    Housing Ministry, ICPC launch nationwide hunt for abandoned, substandard constituency projects

    ‎Federal Government has launched a nationwide hunt for abandoned, poorly executed and substandard constituency and zonal intervention projects, as the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development partners with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to tighten scrutiny and hold defaulting contractors accountable.

    ‎The joint verification and tracking exercise, which commenced in Kano on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, is being carried out simultaneously across states where the Ministry implemented constituency projects.

    ‎Teams drawn from both institutions have been deployed nationwide to conduct on-the-spot inspections, verify project status and quality, and assess compliance with approved specifications.

    ‎Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, said the exercise was designed to ensure that public funds translate into tangible socio-economic benefits for Nigerians, while sending a strong warning to contractors who fail to deliver.

    ‎Speaking through the Director of the Special Projects Unit, Olatunde Ajayi, Belgore said the initiative underscores the Federal Government’s zero tolerance for waste and poor execution of public projects.

    ‎According to him, “This joint verification and tracking exercise with the ICPC is aimed at evaluating the impact of constituency projects and ensuring that they are executed to standard for the benefit of the people.”

    ‎He warned that contractors found to have delivered substandard or abandoned projects would be compelled to take corrective action or refund public funds.

    Read Also: JUST IN: AGF takes over Ozekhome’s alleged forgery case from ICPC

    ‎“The Ministry, working with relevant oversight agencies, will not hesitate to invite contractors for corrective action where deficiencies are identified, or demand refunds to government coffers where projects have clearly failed to meet contractual obligations,” Belgore stated.

    ‎He added that reports generated from the exercise will guide evidence-based decision-making, help assess the relevance and level of implementation of projects, and strengthen planning and delivery of future interventions.

    ‎Also speaking, ICPC Head of Constituency Projects Tracking, Bello Idris Bakori, said the Commission’s participation reflects its mandate to prevent corruption through proactive monitoring of government projects.

    ‎He noted that the exercise is intended to deter sharp practices, promote transparency and ensure that funds earmarked for constituency interventions result in visible development for communities.

    ‎Bakori assured that findings from the tracking exercise would be properly documented and followed up in line with extant laws to safeguard public interest.

    ‎Projects inspected during the Kano flag-off include the provision and installation of solar streetlights at GGSS Kwa in Bichi and Rimingado Local Government Areas; construction of a sporting facility comprising an indoor complex, football pitch and pavilion in Gwarzo town; and the construction of the Badume–Kyauta road linking Dawakin Tofa and Bichi Local Government Areas.

    ‎The joint verification and tracking exercise continues nationwide as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to eliminate waste, enforce accountability and restore public confidence in constituency projects.

  • UPDATED: Alleged forgery: AGF takes over Ozekhome’s case from ICPC

    UPDATED: Alleged forgery: AGF takes over Ozekhome’s case from ICPC

    …Ex-AGF Agabi leads 15 SANs for defence

    The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) has taken over the prosecution of the criminal case brought against Mike Ozekhome (SAN) by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).

    The development, however, stalled Ozekhome’s planned arraignment on Monday before a HIgh Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on the three-count charge filed against him by the ICPC and in which he is accused of among others, forgery.

    When the case was called, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) said he was representing the AGF and informed the court  of the AGF’s decision to take over the case from the ICPC.

    Oyedepo said the AGF was acting under his powers as provided in Section 174 of the Constitution in a collaborative effort with the ICPC.

    The DPPF said the AGF’s decision was informed by the need to ensure that the prosecution complies with the highest standard of effectiveness, efficiency, diligence and compliance with due process of law. 

    He added that the AGF was guided by public interest in order to instil confidence, fairness and competence in the criminal justice.

    Oyedepo said the interagency cooperation in the fight corruption was also considered by the AGF in taking over the case  

    He assured the court that the right of the defendant would be protected, adding that no party would suffer any injustice.

    Oyedepo subsequently asked the court to take judicial notice of the formal take over of the trial by the office of the AGF.

    He then sought an adjournment to enable the AGF’s office retrieve the case file from the ICPC, review same and decide on what next steps to take.

    ICPC’s lawyer, Osuebeni Akpomisingha (who filed the charge) did not object to the take over of the case by the AGF.

    Read Also: Ozekhome: The heart of the matter 

    Akpomisingha assured that the ICPC, as the agency that investigated the case, will fully cooperate with the AGF’s office in the prosecution of the case.

    Former AGF, Kanu Agabi (SAN) who led a team of lawyers (which comprised 15 SANs) for the defence, also did not object to the take over of the case by Fagbemi.

    Upon an application for adjournment by Oyedepo, which was not opposed by Agabi, Jusice

    Peter Kekemeke adjourned till February 24 for arraignment.

    Counts in the charge, marked: FCT/HC/CR/010/2026 read:

    *That you Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN (M) ’68yrs’ of No. 53, Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, sometime in August, 2021 or thereabout at a place outside Nigeria i.e. London, directly received house 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX purportedly given to you by one Mr Shani Tali, an act you knew constitutes a felony and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 13 and punishable under section 24 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences, Act, 2000.

    *That you Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN (m) ’68yrs’ of No. 53, Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, sometime in August 2021 or thereabout at Abuja, while being a legal practitioner and senior advocate of Nigeria did make a false document, to wit: Nigeria passport A07535463 bearing the name of Mr Shani Tali with intent to use same to support claim of ownership of property known and described as 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX with intent to commit fraud and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 363 and punishable under section 364 of the Penal Code CAP 532 laws of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, 2006.

    *That you Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN (M) ’68yrs’ of No. 53, Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, sometime in August 2021 or thereabout at Abuja, while being a legal practitioner and senior advocate of Nigeria dishonestly used as genuine a false Nigeria passport A07535463 bearing the name of Mr Shani Tali to support claim of ownership of property known and described a s 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX when you had reason to believe that the said document was false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 366 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code CAP 532 laws of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, 2006.

  • Assets forfeiture: Let’s stop the theft, not chase it

    Assets forfeiture: Let’s stop the theft, not chase it

    • By Obadiya John

    Sir: In the bustling courtrooms of Abuja, Lagos, and beyond, a familiar ritual plays out: high-profile asset forfeitures, multi-billion naira recoveries, and protracted legal battles against former public officials. To the average citizen, these headlines—often involving hundreds of duplexes, luxury vehicles, and billions in repatriated cash—feel like a victory.

    However, as the figures grow larger, a haunting question remains: Why is the tap of corruption still running so freely? While our anti-graft agencies, the EFCC and ICPC, deserve credit for clawing back stolen wealth, the sheer volume of these recoveries is not a badge of honour; it is a diagnostic report of a failing system. We are celebrating the return of the water while the house is still flooding.

    In recent years, the scale of asset recovery has reached historic levels. The figures are, by any objective measure, staggering. In 2024 alone, the federal government disclosed a combined recovery of over N277 billion and $105 million in cash and assets. By 2025, the ICPC realized N1.86 billion from the auction of 23 forfeited assets—the highest in its history.

    The EFCC has been even more aggressive. Between late 2023 and September 2025, the commission recovered over N566 billion, $411 million, and 1,502 properties. One of the most staggering examples remains the final forfeiture of 753 duplexes in Lokogoma, Abuja. While these figures enjoy strong political endorsement—including the president’s vow that “every stolen asset will be recovered”—they tell a story of massive theft that was allowed to happen in the first place. Forfeiture, in this context, is a damage-control exercise rather than a deterrent strategy.

    The irony of Nigeria’s corruption crisis is that we do not lack the legal tools to prevent looting. Our law books are filled with preventive measures designed to “stop the thief at the door.” The Public Procurement Act (2007) was established to ensure transparency and competition in government contracts; the Fiscal Responsibility Act (2007) aims to prevent reckless spending outside the budget; the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act requires public officers to declare assets to prevent “unjust enrichment”; and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act (2022) provides a framework to stop illicit funds before they leave the country.

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    So, what happened? The answer lies in institutional capture and legal formalism. Nigeria has the “form” of the law but lacks the “spirit” of enforcement. Many of these preventive laws are treated as mere administrative hurdles. When internal oversight units, such as Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units (ACTUs), are underfunded or intimidated by their superiors, the law becomes a dead letter.

    There is a dangerous tendency to view asset recovery as a source of national pride. But we must ask: Is it “pride” to catch a man who has already spent years impoverishing a community?

    Recovery is a slow, expensive, and often inefficient process. Research suggests the efficiency rate for recovering traced proceeds can be as low as 45% due to long legal battles and the depreciation of seized assets like vehicles and buildings. More importantly, by the time money is recovered, the damage—unbuilt hospitals, broken schools, and lost lives—is already done.

    A pilot who prevents a crash is more successful than a search-and-rescue team that finds the black box after a tragedy. Nigeria is currently focusing on the black box.

    To move beyond being a nation that simply “reacts well to theft,” Nigeria must shift from a “policeman-chasing-thief” model to a “system-securing-vault” model. This requires three critical reforms: Automating government payments and procurement to remove the “human interface” where bribes and negotiations typically occur; Moving beyond a mere policy to a formal law that provides concrete protection and rewards for those who report looting before the funds are diverted; and ensuring that internal auditors and procurement officers have security of tenure so they cannot be fired or transferred by the same politicians they are meant to monitor.

    Forfeiture and recovery are necessary, but they are woefully insufficient as standalone strategies. We must recognize that when catching crooks becomes the sole goal, the system still fails; true victory lies not in the arrest, but in the impossibility of the theft. Celebrating recovery is not enough; we need prevention to ensure that public wealth remains where it belongs: in the service of the people.

    •Obadiya John,

    obadiyajohn@yahoo.com

  • ICPC arraigns El-Rufai’s ally, Amadu Sule in ₦311bn money laundering suit

    ICPC arraigns El-Rufai’s ally, Amadu Sule in ₦311bn money laundering suit

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Amadu Sule, Managing Director of TMDK Terminal Limited and a known associate of former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, over an alleged ₦311 billion money laundering scheme.

    Sule was arraigned before the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna on a five-count charge bordering on money laundering and unlawful retention of proceeds of fraud, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

    According to the charge sheet filed by the ICPC, Sule allegedly exercised control over more than ₦311 billion traced to accounts held with Fidelity Bank, Stanbic IBTC, and Providus Bank. The funds were reportedly received from INT Towers Limited, IHS Nigeria Ltd, IHS Towers NG Ltd, and Boaz Commodities Limited, purportedly for the supply of petroleum products.

    The anti-graft agency contends that Sule reasonably ought to have known that the funds constituted proceeds of unlawful activity.

    Read Also: JUST IN: Sule swears in commissioners, dissolves TSC members in Nasarawa

    ICPC further alleges that Sule and TMDK Terminal Limited unlawfully retained the tax components of the disputed transactions, amounting to hundreds of billions of naira, despite allegedly being aware that the underlying transactions were fraudulent.

    The Commission describes the actions as direct handling and retention of illicit proceeds, exposing both the individual and the company to enhanced penalties under Sections 18(3) and 18(4) of the Act.

    The charges were signed by Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha, Head of ICPC’s High-Profile Prosecution Department, underscoring the gravity of the case. Legal analysts note that the involvement of the Commission’s high-profile prosecution unit reflects both the national importance and political sensitivity of the matter.

    The case has drawn significant public attention due to TMDK Terminal Limited’s longstanding business and political associations with the el-Rufai family, including former Governor Nasir el-Rufai and his elder brother, Bashir El-Rufai, who are widely believed to have maintained close dealings with the company during and after Nasir el-Rufai’s tenure as governor.

    The matter has been adjourned to January 15 for the hearing of the accused’s bail application.

  • Ethics and integrity failure

    Ethics and integrity failure

    • A sad commentary on MDAs

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other related Offences Commission (ICPC) has lamented the fact that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL) and 12 other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government failed its Ethics and Integrity Compliance assessment for 2025. The ICPC stated that of the 357 MDAs screened, “the NNPC ranks last with zero across all four key pillar indicators.”

    While the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission scored 91.83 percent, their midstream and downstream counterparts came a distant 278 on the list with a poor score of 38.25 percent. This should worry Nigerians, given the value of oil to the Nigerian economy.

    The ICPC instituted the Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS) as a diagnostic and accountability tool to strengthen transparency, ethical conduct and institutional resilience within the Nigerian public sector.

    The scorecard takes cognisance of management culture and structure, financial systems, administrative systems, and anti-corruption and transparency unit. All these add up to the critical measurements of ethics and governance within the public sector.

    The ICPC stated that “the assessment exposed widespread weaknesses in the ethical standards and institutional integrity of most government agencies.” Of all the agencies evaluated, 48 (13.95 percent) recorded substantial compliance, 132 MDAs (38.37 percent) achieved partial compliance, and 141 MDAs (40.99 percent) showed poor compliance. Twenty-three MDAs (6.69 percent) were classified as non-compliant.

    Integrity and adherence to ethical conduct are the pillars of public service, and they determine the level of trust the people have in institutions and governments.

    The global benchmarks for integrity in the public service are usually very high. This accounts for the respect or disdain institutions and individuals that drive them often attract. In many countries, heads of governments and institutions often resign or are sacked when they lower the bar or are caught acting below standards.

    The public sector is the heartbeat of governments and the drivers are expected to make sure there is no trust deficit from the citizens. We are worried that the MDAs under review are too many and too critical to the development of the country. When MDAs lack ethical conduct and integrity, there must be worries across the board: governments, institutions and citizens. It means there are barricades to systemic functionality, trust, social responsibility and cohesion, accountability and effective governance.

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    For an agency like the NNPCL that provides the greater part of the country’s GDP, it is sad that their ethical and integrity quotients are too low. This possibly accounts for the fact that even as one of the global highest oil producers, the country’s citizens are in the global poorest category in terms of income distribution and other indices of a poor nation like unemployment, poverty, illiteracy, low life expectancy, maternal and child mortality. 

    What the lack of ethical conduct and integrity in the MDAs means is that their corruption is rife, inequality gets the fuel to multiply, there is total trust deficit in government at all levels, and the people feel alienated in the country.

    We commend the ICPC for bringing their findings to the public domain. The details of their analysis show some diligence and commitment to national growth.

    The public service in most countries recruits the best of the citizens in terms of professionalism and personal integrity. Questions must be asked about how the public servants that head these institutions are hired. When people are qualified in character and learning, when they head institutions and begin to fail, the system must have a way of purging such public servants.

    The findings of the ICPC must point a very bright torch into the dark tunnel of the executive and legislative arms of governments at all levels, especially for a country running a democracy. How are public servants hired? In the past, public servants used to be some of the most respected individuals in the country. People like Chief Philip, Asiodu, the late Dora Akunyili, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, the late Lateef Jakande, Alhaji Gidado Idris, the late Maitama Sule, all have their names in the public service hall of fame.

     In recent times, looking for exceptional public servants has become a herculean task. The recruitment process seems to have undergone some political metamorphosis in ways that people with less personal integrity often get recruited and the result is what the ICPC has published.

    We are worried that both state and federal legislators seem to be failing in their oversight functions. We wonder how they can be earning salaries and allowances more than most legislators across the world but cannot as much as perform their oversight functions. The seeming rot in the MDAs is not an overnight issue. If the legislative arm had been thorough and consistent in their duties, we would not have what the ICPC has published.

    The country’s development is dependent on the value the people place on the systemic functionality of the public service. As is obvious from the report, most institutions of government are performing below par. We cannot continue to do things the same way and expect a different result.

    There must be a deliberate effort to investigate reasons for the lack of adherence to ethical behaviour and integrity in the public service. There must be a willingness to punish or reward those who have either excelled or failed in their duties in the public sector.

    The recruitment process must be more stringent and result-oriented. A situation in which poor performance is not enough reason to lose a job cannot produce the best result. Our global reputation is at stake; the ICPC report does not help our image internationally.  Public servants, through their actions, become good or bad ambassadors of the country.

     In a highly digitalised world, this ICPC report is in the public domain and investors cannot have confidence in an economy with a public service with zero in ethics and integrity. The situation demands a comprehensive cleansing. 

  • NSITF moves up to 71.3 in ICPC’s integrity ethics, compliance test

    NSITF moves up to 71.3 in ICPC’s integrity ethics, compliance test

    The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, (NSITF) has recorded improvements in the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission’s (ICPC) Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard, (EICS) for 2025 and the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) Effectiveness Index for the same year. 

    A statement signed by the chairman of NSITF’s Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit, (NSITF-ACTU), Mrs Josephine Oamenmade showed that NSITF moved from 59.0 in 2024 to 71.3 in 2025. 

    The agency also leapfrogged 144 ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of government as it moved 42nd position up from 186th it occupied in 2024 on the EICS national ranking out of the 357 MDAs assessed by the anti-graft agency.

    The statement reads, “We are proud to announce our exceptional performance in the 2025 ICPC Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard. We have moved from 186th to 42nd position nationwide out of 357 MDAs.”

    According to the the statement, the NSITF – ACTU moved up to 47th position from the 76th in the preceding year on the ACTU Effectiveness Index, (AEI) while its score rose to 64.0.

    The EICS is an assessment tool used by the ICPC to measure how MDAs adhere to ethical standards and anti-corruption regulations yearly.

    The statement attributed the remarkable success to the outstanding leadership qualities of the Managing Director and Chief Executive of NSITF, Olúwaṣeun Faleye, and his management team.

    “Kudos to the MD/CE, management, and every staff member for upholding the high standards of accountability that made this possible,” the statement read.

    The agency encouraged all staff to continue upholding ethical and integrity standards.

  • ICPC integrity ranking reflects Komolafe’s leadership, transparency drive at NUPRC – Oil sector group

    ICPC integrity ranking reflects Komolafe’s leadership, transparency drive at NUPRC – Oil sector group

    The Energy Accountability and Governance Network (EAGN) has commended Gbenga Komolafe, the former chief executive officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), for the agency’s top ranking in the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) 2025 integrity report, describing the outcome as a vindication of his leadership and commitment to transparency.

    In a statement issued on Wednesday, the oil sector accountability group said the NUPRC’s emergence as the highest-ranked agency among 357 ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) assessed underscored the strength of the internal governance framework established under Komolafe’s stewardship.

    The ICPC, in its ethics and integrity compliance scorecard (EICS) report, listed 13 MDAs as “high corruption risk” after evaluating organisational policies, internal controls, and compliance with statutory requirements. 

    The NUPRC ranked first with a score of 91.83, ahead of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) and the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

    EAGN said the performance reflected years of deliberate reforms aimed at strengthening institutional discipline, improving transparency, and aligning upstream petroleum regulation with global best practices.

    “The ICPC ranking is not accidental. It is the product of a leadership that prioritised accountability, process integrity and compliance with the law,” the statement, signed by its executive director, Dr Abdulrahman Sadiq, reads.

    According to the group, Komolafe’s tenure was marked by the introduction of robust compliance systems, strengthened internal audit mechanisms, and clear separation between regulatory authority and discretionary influence.

    “This result effectively validates Engr. Komolafe’s leadership ethos and rebuts claims that sought to portray the NUPRC as lacking transparency. Independent assessments such as the ICPC’s provide objective evidence of how institutions are run,” Sadiq said.

    The group noted that the integrity ranking also enhances Nigeria’s credibility with international investors, particularly in the upstream oil and gas sector where regulatory certainty and ethical governance are critical to long-term investment decisions.

    EAGN urged the current leadership of the NUPRC to sustain the governance standards that earned the commission its top position, warning that institutional backsliding could erode investor confidence and weaken regulatory effectiveness.

    “It is important that the current management preserves the integrity systems already in place. The upstream petroleum sector requires a strong, transparent regulator to support revenue optimisation and long-term sector stability,” Sodiq said.

    The ICPC said the EICS, complemented by the anti-corruption and transparency units effectiveness index, was designed to promote ethical conduct across MDAs, strengthen oversight, and provide a benchmark for public sector accountability.

  • ICPC invites Dangote over $7m school fees claim against ex-NMDPRA boss

    ICPC invites Dangote over $7m school fees claim against ex-NMDPRA boss

    • Pushes ahead despite ex-CEO’s resignation
    • Raises panel, opens investigation on Monday

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has invited businessman, Aliko Dangote for more information in respect   of his petition against   the immediate past managing director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Alhaji Farouk Ahmed.

    Dangote is expected to appear or send his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja (SAN) tomorrow when ICPC’s investigation of the petition formally commences.

    The commission raised a panel of crack  investigators on Friday to handle the probe,The Nation learnt yesterday.

    The ICPC ,according to sources ,has asked  Dangote to submit his evidence to the anti-graft agency.

    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.

    The businessman accused  Farouk of economic sabotage by undermining 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, Farouk’s  resignation notwithstanding.

    “All is set for the investigation, ” a well- placed source in ICPC told The Nation yesterday.

    “ICPC has set up a panel of crack investigators on Dangote’s petition. The Chairman of the commission, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN) asked the trusted team to stay action  on a case and focus  on Dangote’s petition. This underscores the importance attached to this case,” the source said.

    “We have also invited Dangote or his lawyer to come on Monday to adopt the petition. “Either of them is to present relevant documents or evidence to support the petition.

    “He who alleges must prove or provide lead on the allegations which our investigators must act on.

    “We have acknowledged the receipt of the petition in line with our guidelines or mandate to do so within 48 hours.”

    Continuing, the source said :”after formal adoption of the petition, we will isolate issues and ask Ahmed to respond to the allegations.

    “We have been inundated with enquiries but I can assure you that ICPC will be fair to all the parties.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “The resignation of Ahmed does not affect this probe which is in the public interest.”

    “Section 19 of the  Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act (ICPC Act 2000) makes it an offence for any public officer to use his/her position to confer an unfair or corrupt advantage on himself, his relatives, associates, or other public officers.Anyone found guilty of any such offence is liable to five  years imprisonment without the option of a fine.

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    “The enabling law also  stipulates harsh punishment for individuals deemed to have wasted ICPC’s  time and resources by making malicious or frivolous petitions against others.”

    In the petition submitted on Tuesday through his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja SAN), Dangote demanded  the arrest, investigation and prosecution of Farouk for allegedly living above his means as a public servant.

    He  accused Farouk of “spending without evidence of lawful means of income amounting to over $7 million for the education of his four children” in Switzerland.

    The document named the children and their schools and provided specific amounts paid for verification.

     “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,” Dangote alleged.

    “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 constitute gross acts of corrupt practices, for which ICPC is statutorily empowered under section 19 of the ICPC Act to investigate and prosecute,” Dangote added.

    The cold war between Dangote and  petroleum regulators had earlier sparked   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 has violated some sections of the Petroleum Industry Act.

    The suit,  FHC/ABJ/CS/1324/2024, was  discontinued in July 2025 by Dangote’s lawyers.

    ICPC 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.

    ●Complaint/petition is made through oral/written report submitted through post, physically to any ICPC office in Nigeria.

    ●A complaint made orally or by an illiterate shall be reduced into writing and read over to the complainant by an officer of the Commission.

    ● The report shall set out details of the complaint , date, time and place where the offence was allegedly committed.

    ●The complainant shall provide the names and addresses, phone number, email and other relevant information that may assist the Commission in locating the person or persons against whom the complaint is made.

     ●The complainant shall state his/her full address, email or phone number or any other information that will assist the commission in contacting him/her, whenever necessary.

    ●Reports can also be made online through any of the commission’s  reporting platforms.

    ●The commission shall acknowledge receipt of any petition within 48 hours. 

    Spokesperson of ICPC , John Okor Odey confirmed that the commission “received a formal petition on Tuesday, 16th December, 2025 from Alhaji Aliko Dangote through his lawyer. The petition is against the CEO of the NMDPRA, Alhaji Farouk Ahmed. The ICPC wishes to state that the petition will be duly investigated.”

  • ICPC recovers N37.44b, $2.35m in 11 months

    ICPC recovers N37.44b, $2.35m in 11 months

    Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has recovered N37.44 billion and $2.353 million this year, its spokesman John Okor Odey, said in a statement yesterday.

    The recoveries, according to him, were through asset seizures and forfeitures.

    Describing the 2025 haul as one of its most significant annual recovery figures to date, Odey said the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), gave the figures in Abuja during the end-of-year engagement/send-forth for retiring workers, and annual merit awards.

    Aliyu described 2025 as “a pivotal year marked by substantial progress across enforcement, prevention, and public enlightenment”.

    The chairman said the ICPC investigated 263 cases, exceeding its target of 250, and filed 61 cases in court, achieving a 55.74 per cent conviction rate.

    The agency boss said among the year’s notable successes was the conviction of Prof Cyril Ndifon of the University of Calabar, who was jailed five-year prison sentence for offences relating to sexual harassment and cyberbullying.

    He said: “This judgment sent a strong signal of the Commission’s resolve to confront all forms of abuse of office.”

    The chairman highlighted extensive preventive work undertaken across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as follows:

     A total of 344 MDAs were assessed using the Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard, while 66 corruption-monitoring activities and 1,490 project-tracking exercises were carried out nationwide.

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     Systems Study and Corruption Risk Assessments were also completed in 12 MDAs, designed to reduce structural vulnerabilities to corruption,” he added.

    Commenting on public enlightenment, ICPC reached more than 235,000 Nigerians through 644 sensitisation activities, generated 3.5 million digital engagements, established 86 Anti-Corruption Clubs and Vanguards, and trained 2,707 participants at the ICPC Academy.

    The ICPC also broadened its partnerships, initiating 15 collaborative activities, while civil society organisations executed 57 complementary engagements.

    In a development he described as “historic and worth celebrating,” Aliyu announced that ICPC had, for the first time, successfully secured the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) allowance for its staff.

    He reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to improving personnel welfare and strengthening institutional capacity.

    The chairman also praised the commission’s workers selected for merit awards, saying the peer-driven nomination process reflected transparency and credibility.

    Retiring workers were honoured for their dedication, professionalism, and years of national service.

    Looking ahead, Aliyu urged personnel to avoid complacency and poor conduct, calling for “integrity, diligence, professionalism, and unity of purpose” as the Commission advances into a new year”.

    He added: “Let us recommit ourselves to building a stronger ICPC and contributing more meaningfully to the national anti-corruption agenda.”

    In a goodwill message, the Chairman of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), Mr. Victor Muruako, applauded ICPC’s interventions at the local government level and reaffirmed FRC’s readiness to deepen inter-agency collaboration. He said closing the year with such an event provided a meaningful moment to reflect on national progress in fighting corruption.

    The Executive Director of the Coalition for Dialogue on Africa (CoDa), Ms. Souad Osman-Aden, congratulated the ICPC on a productive year.

    Citing the newly refreshed MoU signed earlier in the week, she lauded the commission’s achievements in asset recovery and combating illicit financial flows.

    The Executive Director of the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity, Dr Umar Yakubu, who was represented by Mr. Victor Agi, hailed the ICPC for its partnership on the Accountability and Corruption Prevention Programme for Local Government (ACPP-LG).

    He also praised the transparency demonstrated in its asset recovery operations, stating that such openness enhances public trust in governance.

  • ICPC tracks N36trn road projects nationwide, says procurement corruption threatens development

    ICPC tracks N36trn road projects nationwide, says procurement corruption threatens development

    Nigeria’s anti-graft watchdog has begun tracking road contracts worth ₦36 trillion across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, in what the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) described as the largest project-monitoring exercise in the country’s history.

    ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), raised the alarm in that the scale of procurement corruption uncovered in recent years shows that Nigeria’s development will remain stagnant unless transparency becomes the foundation of public contracting.

    Aliyu, represented by the Commission’s Secretary, Sir Clifford Okwudiri Oparaodu, spoke at a one-day Special Engagement for Directors and Heads of Procurement in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), held at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

    Anchoring his warning on the staggering value of ongoing road contracts now under ICPC scrutiny, Aliyu said corruption in procurement remains the single biggest obstacle to Nigeria’s progress.

    “Public procurement consumes between 10 and 25 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP. It is the point where budgets become real projects, or disappear into private pockets,” he said.

    The ICPC boss disclosed that the Commission, working with the Federal Ministry of Works, is currently tracking road projects nationwide with cumulative contract sums totalling ₦36 trillion, noting that early findings show gaps that enable inflation, substandard execution and abandonment.

    He said the scale of the ongoing review underscores the government’s determination to tackle procurement fraud beyond isolated cases.

    According to him, contract splitting, over-invoicing by up to 300 per cent, phantom projects, round-tripping of identical contracts, and collusion between officials and contractors remain rampant despite existing regulations.

    “Project abandonment has become a national crisis. Mobilisation funds vanish; projects sited on private properties; vehicles and equipment are converted to personal use. These are not anomalies, they are patterns,” he added.

    Aliyu highlighted the Commission’s Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Initiative (CEPTI), launched in 2019, which physically monitors projects across communities.

    He said CEPTI had compelled hundreds of contractors to return to sites, restored schools, ensured functioning health centres and water facilities, and illuminated rural communities with solar streetlights.

    But more importantly, he said, CEPTI exposed structural corruption often concealed under official paperwork, making the current nationwide road-tracking exercise even more urgent.

    Aliyu insisted that transparency remains the only viable antidote to procurement fraud.

    He listed key disclosure mechanisms that MDAs must adopt, including: publication of annual procurement plans, bidding criteria, list of all bidders, contract award details, progress reports with evidence, and final handover certificates.

    “Transparency is not optional. It is essential to national development,” he said.

    He also called for open competitive bidding as the default process, multi-stakeholder evaluation panels, capacity verification of contractors and standardised contract templates with enforceable penalties.

    Aliyu described e-procurement as a transformative tool capable of eliminating face-to-face interactions, creating immutable audit trails and enabling real-time monitoring.

    However, he cautioned that technology alone cannot combat corruption without political will, funding, capacity building and effective change management.

    “Corruption thrives in darkness; let us flood the system with light. Millions of Nigerians waiting for roads, water, healthcare and electricity depend on our collective action,” Aliyu said.

    Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr Adebowale Adedokun, praised ICPC’s enforcement efforts and announced that the federal government had approved a new Debarment Policy empowering agencies to blacklist contractors who abandon or deliver substandard projects.

    “This is the first time Nigeria will formally bar violators from future contracts,” he said, adding that procurement audits would be intensified in collaboration with ICPC.

    Director-General of the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), Prof. Samson Duna, commended ICPC for instilling discipline across MDAs and called for more capacity-building to complement compliance.

    Chairman of the House Committee on Anti-Corruption, Hon. Kayode Akiolu, praised the Commission’s shift toward prevention, warning that many practices Nigerians consider “normal” are actually corrupt acts.

    He said the National Assembly would support reforms, including improved testing laboratories for quality assurance in construction.

    Earlier, ICPC Secretary Sir Oparaodu reminded procurement officers of their responsibility to ensure value for money, especially under new monetary thresholds.

    He urged MDAs to prioritise transparency in needs assessment, bidding and project implementation.