The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has said its investigation into Engineer Farouk Ahmed, former Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), will continue notwithstanding the withdrawal of a corruption petition by billionaire businessman Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

The commission confirmed receiving a letter dated January 5, 2026, from O.J. Onoja, SAN & Associates, indicating that the petition filed on December 16, 2025, had been withdrawn in its entirety, on the grounds that another law enforcement agency had taken over the matter.

However, the ICPC stressed that the withdrawal does not affect its statutory mandate. Citing relevant provisions of its enabling Act, the anti-graft agency stated that investigations had already commenced and would proceed in the interest of the Nigerian people, transparency, and accountability.

The allegations arose from a public dispute in late 2025 between Dangote and petroleum sector regulators, during which Ahmed was accused of corrupt enrichment and living beyond his means. The claims included allegations of multi-million-dollar foreign school fees allegedly paid for Ahmed’s children, expenses said to be inconsistent with his income as a public officer.

The controversy contributed to Ahmed’s resignation in December 2025, after which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved changes in the leadership of the NMDPRA. The ICPC has reiterated its commitment to pursuing the matter to a logical conclusion in line with its anti-corruption mandate.