Billionaire industrialist and President of Dangote Refinery, Aliko Dangote, has formally withdrawn all allegations earlier made against the former Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed.
The development was confirmed on Wednesday by the spokesperson of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), John Odey, in an official statement.
According to the anti-graft agency, the withdrawal was conveyed in a letter dated January 5 and signed by Dangote’s legal counsel, Dr. O.J. Onoja, SAN. The letter, titled “Notice of Withdrawal of Petition against Engineer Farouk Ahmed,” informed the Commission that Dangote had withdrawn the petition in its entirety, noting that another law enforcement agency had taken over the matter.
Despite the withdrawal, the ICPC made it clear that its investigation would continue.
“The ICPC wishes to state categorically that in line with 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 Commission said.
It added that the probe would proceed in line with its statutory mandate, stressing its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the fight against corruption.
Dangote had earlier petitioned the ICPC on December 16, 2025, accusing Ahmed of allegedly spending about $5 million on foreign education for four children. Ahmed, however, denied the allegations before his resignation was officially announced by the Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga.
