ICPC vows to continue corruption probe against ex-NMDPRA, despite Dangote’s withdrawn petition

Nigeria’s Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) has declared it will proceed with its investigation into alleged corruption by the former CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Ahmed Farouk.

This decision stands despite the formal withdrawal of the petition that initiated the probe by billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote.

Farouk had resigned from his position shortly after Dangote submitted the petition in December 2024, which called for his arrest and investigation.

However, in a recent letter dated January 5, 2025, Dangote’s legal counsel requested the ICPC to discontinue the probe, citing that another law enforcement agency had taken over the matter.

The ICPC, in a statement by its spokesperson, clarified that under sections 3(14) and 27(3) of its enabling law, the investigation is already underway and will continue.

The commission emphasized its commitment to advancing the case in the interest of the Nigerian public, transparency, and accountability.

The original petition accused Farouk of gross abuse of office, corrupt enrichment, and embezzlement. A central allegation was that he spent over $7 million in public funds to pay six years of school fees upfront for his four children at institutions in Switzerland—an expenditure purportedly unjustifiable given his career earnings within the Nigerian public sector.

Dangote’s petition had provided detailed information, including the names of the children and their schools, urging the ICPC to verify the claims.

It argued that such actions violated the Code of Conduct for public officers and fell squarely within the ICPC’s mandate to investigate and prosecute.

The ICPC’s latest statement reaffirms that the withdrawal of the petition does not halt its statutory duty to investigate allegations of corruption for the benefit of the state.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

See author's posts