Africa’s foremost businessman, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has formally withdrawn his petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against the former Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Alhaji Farouk Ahmed.
However, the anti-graft agency has made it clear that the withdrawal will not halt its investigation, stressing that the matter remains firmly in the public interest. Akahi News gathered that the ICPC has already activated procedures to verify key allegations contained in the petition, including reaching out to educational institutions in Switzerland.
Allegations of Multi-Million Dollar School Fees
Dangote had alleged that Farouk Ahmed expended a staggering sum of over $7 million, without evidence of lawful income, on the education of his four children in different schools in Switzerland. According to the petition, the fees were allegedly paid upfront for a period of six years.
Akahi News learnt that as part of its ongoing investigation, the ICPC has initiated formal communication with the Swiss schools mentioned in the petition to confirm whether Farouk’s children were, or are, enrolled in those institutions and under what financial arrangements.
Why Dangote Withdrew the Petition
Investigation by Akahi News revealed that Dangote decided to withdraw his petition from the ICPC because a similar complaint is already being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Sources familiar with the matter disclosed that Dangote requested the ICPC to allow the EFCC to proceed with the probe, even though he had initially submitted petitions to both agencies.
A source at the commission explained the development in detail, saying:
“We asked him to come in person to adopt his petition because our law does not allow representation in criminal matters. We pleaded with Dangote to come to the ICPC headquarters in Abuja on December 29 to do the needful. We have now received a letter of withdrawal from him.”
ICPC: Withdrawal Cannot Stop Investigation
Despite the withdrawal, the ICPC insisted that the investigation would continue unabated. According to the source:
“But he cannot stop our investigation because the petition falls within our mandate. We deal with the public sector and public service. It is in the public interest, and we must see it to its logical conclusion.”
The source further noted that there is an inter-agency understanding between the ICPC and EFCC on handling petitions.
“There is also an inter-agency understanding that once ICPC or EFCC is handling a petition, one of us must stay action. Despite the withdrawal of the petition, we are going ahead with our probe of the allegations against Farouk,” the source said.
Akahi News gathered that the ICPC is currently awaiting feedback from the Swiss institutions contacted as part of its verification process.
Official ICPC Confirmation
The position of the commission was formally confirmed in a statement issued by the Spokesperson and Head, Media and Public Communications of the ICPC, Mr. John Okor Odey.
According to the statement:
“The ICPC is in receipt of a letter dated January 5, 2025, titled ‘Notice of Withdrawal of Petition against Engineer Farouk Ahmed’, submitted to the Commission by Dr. O.J. Onoja, SAN and Associates, legal counsel to Alhaji Aliko Dangote.”
The statement added that the letter informed the commission that the petitioner had withdrawn the petition dated December 16, 2025, against Engineer Farouk Ahmed, the immediate past ACE/CEO of the NMDPRA, on the grounds that another law enforcement agency had taken over the matter.
However, the ICPC emphasised its statutory powers to proceed regardless of the withdrawal.
“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 said.
Matter Remains in the Public Interest
The commission concluded by reaffirming its commitment to transparency and accountability.
“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.”
Akahi News gathered that the unfolding case is likely to attract significant public attention, given the high-profile personalities involved and the broader implications for accountability within Nigeria’s petroleum regulatory framework.
By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News
Joseph Iyaji is a journalist, educator, and founder of Akahi G. International, Akahi Tutors, and Akahi News. Read more about him here.
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