The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has declared that it will proceed with its investigation into the immediate past Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Ahmed Farouk, despite the withdrawal of a petition filed by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote.
The anti-graft agency confirmed on Monday that it had received a formal notice withdrawing the petition against Farouk, but stressed that the action would not halt its ongoing inquiry, citing its statutory powers and obligation to the Nigerian public.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, J. Okor Odey, the commission disclosed that the withdrawal was conveyed through a letter dated January 5, 2026, written by Dr. O.J. Onoja, SAN, legal counsel to Dangote.
“The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is in receipt of a letter titled ‘Notice of Withdrawal of Petition against Engineer Farouk Ahmed,’” the statement read. “The letter states that the petitioner has withdrawn the petition dated December 16, 2025, in its entirety.”
However, the commission was unequivocal that the withdrawal would not bring the matter to an end.
“In line with the provisions of sections 3(14) and 27(3) of the ICPC Act, investigations in the interest of the Nigerian people and the Nigerian state have already commenced and are presently ongoing,” the statement added.
Dangote, Chairman of the Dangote Group, had in December 2025 petitioned the ICPC, alleging corruption and financial impropriety against Farouk, who recently exited the helm of the NMDPRA.
The petition called for Farouk’s arrest, investigation and prosecution, accusing him of living far beyond his legitimate earnings as a public officer.
Central to the allegation was a claim that Farouk spent more than $7 million on the education of his four children in Switzerland over a six-year period, despite, according to Dangote, having no lawful income that could justify such expenditure.
The petition detailed the names of the children, the Swiss schools they attended and the amounts allegedly paid, urging the ICPC to verify the claims.
Dangote further alleged that Farouk abused his position at the NMDPRA to divert public funds for personal use, an accusation he said had fuelled public outrage and protests by some groups.
The former NMDPRA boss has flatly rejected the allegations, describing them as “wild and spurious.” He has maintained that the claims are unfounded and politically motivated.
The clash between both men has its roots in a long-running dispute that surfaced publicly in July 2024, when Farouk reportedly stated that locally refined petroleum products — including those from the Dangote Refinery — were of inferior quality compared to imported fuel.
While the petitioner has stepped back, the ICPC’s insistence on pushing ahead underscores its position that allegations of corruption, once raised, transcend private interests and fall squarely within the remit of state accountability.
