Aliko Dangote, Chairman of the Dangote Group, has clarified the recent visit of officials from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the company’s office. Despite the visit, Dangote assured of the group’s commitment to assisting the agency with its investigations.
EFCC officials had visited the Dangote Group headquarters in Lagos to inquire about the details of foreign exchange allocated to it by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from 2014 to the present.
In a statement, Dangote explained that on December 6, 2023, the group received a letter requesting details of foreign exchange allocations by the CBN from 2014 to the present. Similar letters were sent to 51 other groups of companies.
“We responded to the EFCC to acknowledge receipt of the letter while seeking clarification on the subsidiaries or companies within the group that they required information on. We also requested additional time to compile and properly present the extensive documentation spanning ten years,” he stated.
However, Dangote highlighted that the EFCC did not provide the sought clarification and did not honor the request for an extension, insisting on receiving the complete set of documents within a limited timeframe. Despite constraints, the group assured the EFCC of its commitment to providing the information and pledged to share documents in batches.
On January 4, 2024, the group delivered the first batch of documents to the EFCC. However, officers of the EFCC did not accept the documents, insisting on visiting the group’s offices to collect the same set of documents directly.
Dangote emphasized that, to their knowledge, no accusations of wrongdoing have been made against any company within the group. They are currently responding to a request for information to assist the EFCC with an ongoing investigation.
Despite the challenges, Dangote assured that as a law-abiding and ethical corporate citizen, the group remains committed to providing the EFCC with all necessary information and cooperation.
The first batch of documents has been delivered, and they are actively working to compile and submit the remaining documents.
Dangote concluded by calling for the understanding and patience of stakeholders, highlighting the group’s significant contributions to the national GDP, its position as the largest employer in the private sector, and its commitment to the rule of law and fostering an investment-friendly environment in Nigeria.
