ICPC insists on NMDPRA ex-CEO probe as Dangote withdraws petition

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has reaffirmed its commitment to investigating the immediate past Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, despite the withdrawal of a petition by billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote.

Dangote had filed the petition on December 16, 2025, through his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja (SAN), urging the ICPC to investigate and potentially prosecute Ahmed over allegations of corruption and financial impropriety.

The petition alleged that Ahmed spent over $7m on the education of his four children in Switzerland, reportedly paid upfront for a six-year period, without any lawful source of income to justify such expenditure.

It also accused Ahmed of diverting public funds for personal gain through his position at the NMDPRA, claims which Dangote said had fueled public outrage and civil society protests.

The petition stated:“Engr. Farouk Ahmed has grossly abused his office contrary to the extant provisions of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, enmeshing himself in monumental corruption and unlawful spending of public funds running into millions of dollars. That Engr. Farouk Ahmed spent, without evidence of lawful means of income, a humongous sum of over $7 million of public funds on the education of his four children in different schools in Switzerland for a period of six years upfront.”

However, the ICPC said it received a letter dated January 5, 2026, from Dangote’s lawyer notifying the commission that the petition had been withdrawn and that another law enforcement agency had taken over the matter.

In a statement, ICPC spokesperson John Odey emphasised that the withdrawal of the petition would not halt its investigation.

He said the commission’s probe had already commenced in line with sections 3(14) and 27(3) of its enabling Act.

“The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission is in receipt of a letter dated January 5, 2026, titled ‘Notice of Withdrawal of Petition against Engineer Farouk Ahmed,’ submitted to the Commission by Dr. O.J. Onoja, SAN and Associates, legal counsel to Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

The letter states that the petitioner has withdrawn the petition dated 16th December, 2025, in its entirety and that another law enforcement agency has taken over,” Odey said.

He added: “The ICPC wishes to state categorically that, in line with the provisions of sections 3(14) and 27(3) of its enabling Act, investigations in the interest of the Nigerian people and the Nigerian state have already commenced and are presently ongoing. The ICPC will therefore continue to investigate this matter in line with its statutory mandate and in the interest of transparency, accountability, and the fight against corruption for the benefit of Nigeria.” (Punch)