Nigerian business tycoon Aliko Dangote, the driving force behind the Dangote Group, has issued a robust response to the recent intrusion by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into the group’s Lagos headquarters.
In a statement released on Saturday, Dangote expressed his firm commitment to collaborate with the anti-graft agency amid an ongoing investigation into alleged foreign exchange irregularities.
The EFCC is currently probing the Dangote Group regarding foreign exchange allocations from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) dating back to 2014. The investigation stems from concerns over the utilization of these funds during the tenure of the former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
Dangote clarified the sequence of events, stating, “On December 6, 2023, we received a letter requesting details of foreign exchange allocations from 2014 to the present. We sought clarification and additional time to compile the extensive documentation. Despite our commitment to cooperate, the EFCC insisted on a tight timeframe and direct collection of documents.”
The billionaire industrialist emphasized that, to their knowledge, no accusations of wrongdoing have been made against any company within the Dangote Group. He highlighted the group’s proactive response, delivering the first batch of documents on January 4, 2024, despite the EFCC’s insistence on collecting them directly.
Dangote further recounted the EFCC’s unexpected visit to their offices, stating, “Worthy of note is the fact that the officials did not take any documents or files from our Head office during their visit as these were already in their office.”
Asserting the group’s commitment to the rule of law, Dangote reassured stakeholders, “As a law-abiding and ethical corporate citizen, we remain committed to providing the EFCC with all necessary information and cooperation. Our Group is a key contributor to the national GDP, the largest private-sector employer, and one of the highest taxpayers in the country.”
In conclusion, Dangote called for understanding and patience from stakeholders, promising to keep them informed of any developments in the ongoing investigation.
