Africa’s foremost businessman, Aliko Dangote, has withdrawn his petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against the immediate past Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed.
However, the ICPC has maintained that the withdrawal will not halt its ongoing investigation, insisting that the matter remains firmly in the public interest.
Dangote had alleged that Ahmed expended over $7 million in public funds on the education of his four children in Switzerland without evidence of lawful income, reportedly paying school fees upfront for a period of six years.
Despite the withdrawal of the petition, the ICPC disclosed that it has already activated formal procedures to verify the claims, including contacting the Swiss educational institutions listed in the petition to confirm whether Ahmed’s children were, or are, enrolled there.
Investigations revealed that Dangote opted to withdraw his petition because a similar complaint is already under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He reportedly requested that the ICPC allow the EFCC to continue with the matter, having initially submitted petitions to both agencies.
A source at the ICPC explained that the commission had earlier invited Dangote to personally adopt his petition, noting that criminal proceedings do not permit representation by proxy under the law.
“We asked him to come in person to adopt his petition, but we have now received a formal letter of withdrawal,” the source said. “However, he cannot stop our investigation because the petition falls squarely within our mandate.”
The source added that there is an inter-agency understanding between the ICPC and the EFCC to prevent duplication of investigations, but stressed that once an agency has commenced action, it retains the right to proceed.
“Despite the withdrawal of the petition, we are going ahead with our probe. We deal with the public sector, and this matter concerns public funds. It is in the public interest, and we must see it to its logical conclusion,” the source stated.
The ICPC also confirmed that responses from the Swiss institutions contacted are being awaited.
In an official statement issued on Monday, the ICPC’s Spokesperson and Head of Media and Public Communications, Mr John Okor Odey, confirmed receipt of the withdrawal letter dated January 5, 2025.
According to the statement, the letter, titled ‘Notice of Withdrawal of Petition against Engineer Farouk Ahmed’, was submitted by Dangote’s legal counsel, Dr O.J. Onoja, SAN, and Associates.
The statement noted that while the petitioner had withdrawn the petition dated December 16, 2025, the commission had already commenced investigations in line with Sections 3(14) and 27(3) of its enabling Act.
“The ICPC wishes to state categorically that investigations in the interest of the Nigerian people and the Nigerian state have already commenced and are presently ongoing,” the statement said.
“The Commission 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.”
