NO GOING BACK: ICPC PUSHES AHEAD WITH FAROUK AHMED PROBE DESPITE DANGOTE EXIT
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By: Fasasi Hammad
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has reaffirmed its resolve to continue investigations into Engineer Farouk Ahmed, the immediate past Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), notwithstanding the withdrawal of the corruption petition filed by billionaire industrialist Alhaji Aliko Dangote.
The anti-corruption agency confirmed that it received a formal letter dated January 5, 2026, from Dr. O.J. Onoja, SAN & Associates, acting on Dangote’s behalf, withdrawing in full the petition submitted on December 16, 2025. The letter stated that the matter had been taken over by another law enforcement agency.
However, the ICPC emphasized that the withdrawal does not halt its investigation, stressing its independence and statutory mandate to act in the public interest.
In a statement issued on the matter, the Commission said the petitioner’s letter confirmed the withdrawal of the allegations against Ahmed but noted that investigations had already commenced.
According to the ICPC, in line with Sections 3(14) and 27(3) of its enabling Act, the investigation is ongoing and will be pursued to its logical conclusion in the interest of the Nigerian people and the Nigerian state.
“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.
The petition originated from a high-profile dispute in late 2025 between Dangote and Ahmed during the latter’s tenure at the NMDPRA. The dispute followed repeated clashes between Dangote’s $20 billion refinery and petroleum sector regulators over fuel importation policies, pricing structures, and market control.
Dangote had accused Ahmed of corrupt enrichment, alleging that the former regulator spent over $5 million on his children’s education at elite Swiss schools—expenditures said to be inconsistent with the legitimate earnings of a public servant.
The allegations quickly escalated into a national controversy, contributing to Ahmed’s resignation in December 2025, alongside the former head of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). President Bola Tinubu subsequently nominated new leadership for the NMDPRA.
In his original petition to the ICPC, Dangote called for Ahmed’s arrest, investigation, and prosecution for abuse of office, corruption, and living beyond his means.
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