ICPC Insists On Probe As Dangote Withdraws Petition Against Ex NMDPRA Boss

ICPC Insists On Probe As Dangote Withdraws Petition Against Ex NMDPRA Boss
Petition accused ex NMDPRA boss of corruption and abuse of office
Ahmed resigned in December 2025 amid public controversy

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has said it will continue its investigation into the immediate past Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, despite the withdrawal of a petition earlier submitted by billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the commission confirmed that it received a formal letter dated January 5, 2026, from Dr O.J. Onoja, SAN and Associates, acting on behalf of Dangote, withdrawing the petition filed on December 16, 2025.

According to the letter, the petition against Ahmed was withdrawn in its entirety, with the explanation that another law enforcement agency had taken over the matter. However, the ICPC said the withdrawal would not stop its ongoing investigation.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the commission said investigations had already commenced in line with its statutory mandate.

“The letter from O.J. Onoja, SAN, states that the petitioner has withdrawn the petition dated 16th December, 2025, submitted against Engineer Farouk Ahmed, the immediate past ACE CEO of the NMDPRA, in its entirety and that another law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, 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,” the statement read.

The petition stemmed from a high profile dispute in late 2025 between Dangote and Ahmed during the latter’s tenure at the NMDPRA. The disagreement followed repeated clashes between Dangote’s refinery and petroleum regulators over importation policies, pricing and market control.

Dangote had accused Ahmed of corrupt enrichment, alleging that the former regulator spent more than five million dollars on his children’s education in Switzerland, expenses he claimed were inconsistent with a public officer’s legitimate earnings.

The allegations sparked public controversy and were followed by Ahmed’s resignation in December 2025, alongside the head of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission. President Bola Tinubu later nominated new leadership for the NMDPRA.