Dangote breaks silence amid EFCC investigation

Nigerian business magnate and industrialist, Aliko Dangote, has responded to the recent raid on the Dangote Group headquarters in Lagos by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). In a statement released on Saturday, the Chairman of the Dangote Group expressed his willingness to cooperate with the anti-graft agency in its investigations.

The EFCC is currently investigating the Dangote Group regarding the details of foreign exchange allocations allegedly given to the company by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from 2014 to the present. The agency had reportedly stormed the headquarters of Dangote Industries Limited in Ikoyi, Lagos, as part of its ongoing probe into the alleged misuse of foreign exchange allocations during the tenure of the immediate past CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

Dangote clarified the sequence of events, stating, “On 6 December 2023, we received a letter requesting details of all the foreign exchange allocated to our company by the Central Bank of Nigeria from 2014 to the present. We understand similar letters were sent to 51 other groups of companies requesting the same information spanning the same period.”

He further explained that the EFCC did not provide the requested clarification and did not honor the company’s request for an extension. Despite the challenges, Dangote affirmed the commitment of the Dangote Group to providing the requested information.

Dangote stated, “As a law-abiding and ethical corporate citizen, we remain committed to providing the EFCC with all necessary information and cooperation.” He emphasized the company’s contribution to the national GDP, its position as a major employer, and its commitment to Nigeria’s rule of law.

Dangote called for understanding and patience from stakeholders, assuring them that the company would keep them informed of any further developments.