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From Adann Nnamani, Abuja
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has declared that it will press ahead with investigations into the petition filed by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, against the immediate past Authority Chief Executive/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, despite the withdrawal of the complaint.
The anti-corruption agency said it had received a letter dated January 5, 2026, from Dr O.J. Onoja, SAN & Associates, legal counsel to Dangote, formally notifying the Commission of the withdrawal of the petition submitted on December 16, 2025.
According to ICPC, the letter, titled “Notice of Withdrawal of Petition against Engineer Farouk Ahmed,” stated that the petition had been withdrawn in its entirety and that another law enforcement agency had taken over the matter.
However, the Commission, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Okor Odey, on Wednesday, made it clear that the withdrawal would not stop its action, stressing that investigations had already commenced in line with the law and would continue to their logical conclusion.
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“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 Commission said.
It added that the matter would be pursued strictly within its statutory mandate, regardless of the petitioner’s decision to pull out.
“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 said.
