Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Wednesday, said that Aliko Dangote has withdrawn his petition against Ahmed Farouk, the former head of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum regulator, even as investigations into the allegations continue.

Dangote, chairman of the Dangote Group, submitted the petition to the ICPC in December 2025 through his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, accusing Farouk of corruption and financial impropriety. The petition called for Farouk’s arrest, investigation and prosecution.

In the filing, Dangote alleged that Farouk lived beyond his means as a public official, claiming he spent more than $7 million on the education of his four children in Switzerland over six years without lawful income to support such expenses.

ICPC spokesperson Okor Odey said the withdrawal was communicated in a letter from Dangote’s lawyer. He added that the petition was withdrawn in full and that another law enforcement agency had taken over the case.

However, Odey said the ICPC would proceed with its own investigation despite the withdrawal.

“The petitioner has withdrawn the petition dated 16 December 2025… in its entirety,” the statement said.

“Nevertheless, in line with sections 3(14) and 27(3) of the ICPC Act, investigations have already commenced and are ongoing.”

He said the commission would continue its inquiry in the interest of transparency, accountability and the fight against corruption.

Farouk resigned as chief executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority less than 24 hours after the petition was submitted, following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu.

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has approved a major redeployment of senior officers, posting a Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) and 17 Commissioners of Police to key operational departments and State commands across the country in what the Force described as a move to strengthen leadership and service delivery.

According to the Force Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Benjamin Hundeyin, the redeployments are aimed at reinforcing intelligence gathering, improving operational efficiency and enhancing public safety nationwide.

“The deployments are intended to strengthen operational capacity, effective leadership, enhance public safety, and improve service delivery,” Hundeyin said in a Tuesday post on the Nigeria Police Force’s official X handle.

Under the new arrangement, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Usaini Gumel has been assigned to head the Force Intelligence Department, placing him at the centre of the police’s intelligence coordination and analysis.

At the command level, Commissioner of Police Aina Adesola has been posted to Delta State, Umar Mohammed Hajedia to Kebbi State, and Iyamah Daniel Edobor to Bayelsa State, as part of efforts to reinforce leadership in strategic states.

Several commissioners have also been deployed to specialised units and formations.

Osagie John Agans-Irabor was assigned to the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit at the FCID Annex in Lagos, while Johnson Ayodeji Babalola will head the Special Enquiries Bureau at the FCID in Abuja. Adepegba K. Adetoye was posted to the Marine Unit at Force Headquarters, Abuja, and Tabitha Bako and Umar Ali Fagge were appointed deputy commandants at the Police Colleges in Kaduna and Ikeja respectively.

Others include Audu Garba Bosso to General Investigation at the FCID Annex in Kaduna, Edwin Esiunnoh Ogbeghagha to Community Policing at Force Headquarters, Arikpo Ofem Ikpi to the Investment Office of the Department of Logistics and Supply, and Cyril Uchenna Obiozo to the Maritime Command in Lagos. Samuel Yerima was named Coordinator of Courses at the Police Staff College, Jos, while Alhaji Mohammed Danlandi was deployed to the X-Squad at the FCID Annex in Kaduna.

Further postings saw Richard Bala Gara assigned to the Inspectorate Department of Training and Development, Lasisi A. Titilola to the Railway Command in Lagos, and Obuagbaka C. John to the Safer Highway Unit in the Department of Operations at Force Headquarters, Abuja.

Egbetoku urged the redeployed officers to justify the confidence reposed in them, charging them to draw on their experience to deliver results. He emphasised the need to “uphold professionalism, integrity, and ethical standards” and to ensure strict adherence to the rule of law in the discharge of their duties.

The redeployment comes amid ongoing efforts by the police leadership to reposition the Force for more effective crime prevention, intelligence-led policing and improved engagement with the public.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, may have been stripped of critical powers in the nation’s financial activities in the wake of President Bola Tinubu’s latest directive.

The president’s decision to strip Edun of certain responsibilities was contained in a State House memo to the Secretary to the Federal Government, Senator George Akume, dated December 4, 2025.

The memo is titled: “Re: Updated Responsibilities of the Honourable Minister of State for Finance” and signed by the Private Secretary to the President, Mr. Damilotun Aderemi, was, according to reports, personally delivered by the SGF, Senator George Akume, to the Minister of Finance.

The memo read: “I write on the directive of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to forward the attached document on the above subject matter to you and to request that you issue a necessary memorandum implementing same as updated responsibilities of the Honourable Minister of State finance.”

The attached document, referenced supra, entitled “UPDATED Responsibilities of the Honourable Minister of State for Finance” reads in extenso: “The office will be specifically responsible for domestic finances of the Federation including revenue generation, revenue distribution and all domestic debt management.

“Additional specific mandates and oversight: in addition to the existing mandate of the office: (a) Home Finance, (b) Technical Services, (c) Cash Management, (d) Revenue Sharing amongst the tiers of Government and Federation Account, (e) All Domestic Debt Management, (f) Nigerian Customs Service, (g) Development Finance.”

The directive is meant to take immediate effect.

There are insinuations that the minister is displeased with the development, but that claim could not be independently verified.