By BANNERNEWS Reporter
Africa’s richest man and President of the Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has advised his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, SAN, to withdraw the petition he submitted to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
The petition was against the former Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed.
Recall that in December, Dangote had asked the anti-graft agency to prosecute Farouk Ahmed for allegedly using his office to divert public funds for self-gains and pursuit of private interest to the detriment of the Nigerian people.
He had maintained that he has substantial facts to back up his claims against Ahmed.
It was learnt that the petition was withdrawn after another agency of government took over the matter.
Confirming the development in a statement, the spokesman of the ICPC, John Odey, said despite withdrawal, the agency would continue to investigate the matter in line with its statutory mandate.
He also stressed that continual investigation was in the interest of transparency, accountability and the fight against corruption for the benefit of Nigeria.
“The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (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“The letter from O.J Onoja SAN, states that the petitioner has withdrawn the petition dated 16th December, 2025, submitted against Engineer Farouk Ahmed, the immediate past ACE/CEO of the NMDPRA in its entirety and that another law enforcement agency has taken over.
“The ICPC wishes to state categorically that in line with the provisions of sections 3(14) and 27(3) of its enabling Act, the investigations in the interest of the Nigerian people and the Nigerian state have already commenced and are presently ongoing.
“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.”
