ICPC Rejects Dangote’s Withdrawal Request, Insists on Probing Ex-NMDPRA Boss Farouk Ahmed

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has declined a request by billionaire industrialist Alhaji Aliko Dangote to withdraw his petition against the former head of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engineer Farouk Ahmed, PulseNets learnt.

The anti-graft agency confirmed that investigations into the allegations of corrupt practices had already commenced and would proceed to a logical conclusion in the public interest.

ICPC spokesperson, John Odey, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, explaining that the commission was acting within the scope of its statutory responsibilities to Nigerians.

“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.

PulseNets obtained details indicating that the commission received a formal letter dated January 5, titled “Notice of Withdrawal of Petition against Engineer Farouk Ahmed.” The letter was signed by Dr. O.J. Onoja, SAN and Associates, who serve as legal counsel to Dangote.

According to the ICPC, the correspondence stated that Dangote had withdrawn the petition originally submitted on December 16, 2025, against Engineer Ahmed, who served as the immediate past Authority Chief Executive and Chief Executive Officer of the NMDPRA, and that the matter had allegedly been taken over by another law enforcement agency.

However, the commission made it clear that such withdrawal does not halt an investigation once it has been lawfully activated.

“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 statement stressed.

The agency reiterated that its decision was guided strictly by law and national interest, noting that petitions touching on alleged corruption transcend private interests once formally received and acted upon.

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“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 commission restated.

The development underscores the commission’s resolve to pursue corruption-related allegations to their conclusion, regardless of subsequent attempts by petitioners to disengage.