Legal counsel to Aliko Dangote, Dr. O.J. Onoja, SAN, has formally withdrawn a petition submitted to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission against Engineer Farouk Ahmed, the immediate past Authority Chief Executive of the NMDPRA. The withdrawal was conveyed in a letter dated January 5, 2025, titled “Notice of Withdrawal of Petition against Engineer Farouk Ahmed.”
The letter stated that the petition had been withdrawn in its entirety, noting that another unnamed government agency had taken over the investigation. Reacting, ICPC spokesperson John Odey confirmed receipt of the letter, which withdrew the petition dated December 16, 2025. He said the commission acknowledged the withdrawal but emphasised that its actions are guided by law and public interest.
According to Odey, “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… have already commenced and are presently ongoing.” He added that the commission would continue its probe “in the interest of transparency, accountability and the fight against corruption.”