By James
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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has rejected the withdrawal of the petition filed against Farouk Ahmed, the immediate past Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, by Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and President of Dangote Group.
Dangote had levelled corruption allegations against Ahmed, following rumpus in the oil sector, especially as it affects approval of licences for importation of petroleum products and Dangote Refinery.
However, the anti-corruption agency said Dr. O.J. Onoja, SAN and Associates, legal counsel to Alhaji Aliko Dangote, in a letter dated January 5, 2026, notified it of Dangote’s decision to withdraw the December 16, 2025, petition against Ahmed.
This notwithstanding, the Commission rejected the decision in a statement signed by its Spokesperson and Head of Media and Public Communications, Okor Odey.
According to Odey: “The letter from O.J Onoja SAN, states that the petitioner has withdrawn the petition dated 16th December, 2025, submitted against Engineer Farouk Ahmed, the immediate past ACE/CEO of the NMDPRA in its entirety and that another law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, the 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 ICPC insisted on its commitment to fighting against corruption in accordance with its constitutional mandate, adding that it would not halt probing the petition in the interest of the country.
