ICPC Refuses To Stop Ex-NMDPRA MD’s Probe Despite Dangote’s Withdrawal Of Petition

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed that its investigation into a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Ahmed Farouk, despite the withdrawal of the petition by Aliko Dangote.

In a statement by the spokesperson of the commission, J. Okor Odey, ICOC said it received a notice by Dangote’s legal representatives informing it that the petition against Ahmed has been withdrawn.

Despite this development, the ICPC said the matter would not be dropped, explaining that under sections 3(14) and 27(3) of its Act, it has the legal backing to go on with investigations once they have started, especially where public interest is involved.

“The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) 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“The letter from O. J. Onoja SAN, states that the petitioner has withdrawn the petition dated 16 December, 2025, submitted against Engineer Farouk Ahmed, the immediate past ACE/CEO of the NMDPRA, in its entirety, and that another law enforcement agency has taken over.

“The ICPC wishes to state categorically that, in line with the provisions of sections 3(14) and 27(3) of its enabling Act, the investigations in the interest of the Nigerian people and the Nigerian state have already commenced and are presently ongoing,” the statement added.

Dangote had earlier accused Ahmed of corruption and financial misconduct in a petition submitted to the anti-graft agency in December 2025.

He called for the former NMDPRA boss to be arrested and prosecuted, alleging that he was living far beyond his legitimate income as a public official.

In the petition, Dangote claimed that Ahmed spent more than $7 million on the education of his four children in Switzerland over six years, without any clear proof of a lawful source of the funds.

He reportedly listed the names of the children, the schools they attended, and the fees paid to support his claims and enable proper investigation.

Dangote also alleged that Ahmed used his position at the NMDPRA to divert public funds for personal benefit, actions he said had sparked public outrage and protests in some quarters.

He argued that Ahmed had spent his entire career in public service and could not have legitimately earned such an amount.

According to Dangote, the funds used to train the children abroad were allegedly taken from public resources.

KanyiDaily recalls that Ahmed Farouk had since rejected the allegations, describing them as baseless and unfounded.