The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has declined a request by Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, to withdraw a petition he filed against Farouk Ahmed, the immediate past Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The anti-graft agency said investigations into the allegations against the former NMDPRA boss have already commenced and will continue in line with its statutory mandate, regardless of the petitioner’s decision to withdraw the complaint.
In a statement issued on Wednesday night and shared by John Odey, its spokesperson, the Commission confirmed receipt of a letter dated January 5, 2026, titled “Notice of Withdrawal of Petition against Engineer Farouk Ahmed, former ACE/CEO of the NMDPRA.” The letter was submitted to the ICPC by O.J. Onoja, and Associates, legal counsel to Dangote.
Read also: Dangote petitions ICPC, demands prosecution of NMDPRA CEO Ahmed over corruption
According to the statement, the letter informed the Commission that Dangote had withdrawn in its entirety the petition dated December 16, 2025, which accused Ahmed of corrupt practices and abuse of office.
The letter also indicated that another law enforcement agency had allegedly taken over the matter.
However, the ICPC made it clear that the withdrawal would not halt its ongoing investigation.
“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,” the Commission stated.
The agency explained that its decision is grounded in the provisions of Sections 3(14) and 27(3) of the ICPC Act, which empower it to investigate allegations of corruption and related offences once they are reported, especially where such matters concern public interest and the Nigerian state.
The Commission stressed that corruption allegations involving public office holders transcend private interests and cannot be discontinued solely at the discretion of a petitioner once investigative processes have been activated.
While the ICPC did not disclose details of the allegations contained in the original petition, it reaffirmed its commitment to conducting a thorough and impartial investigation and assured Nigerians that the matter is being handled with the seriousness it deserves.
Farouk Ahmed served as the head of the NMDPRA, a regulatory body overseeing Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum operations, making the allegations against him a matter of significant public concern.
The ICPC reiterated that its actions are guided strictly by law and the overriding need to safeguard public trust, adding that no individual or institution is above scrutiny in the fight against corruption.
