The Dangote Group, led by Chairman Aliko Dangote, has provided clarity regarding the recent visit of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to its Lagos Head Office. The EFCC officials’ visit was to scrutinize forex allocations to the company during the tenure of Godwin Emefiele as Governor of Nigeria’s Central Bank.
In a statement, the Dangote Group explained that it received a letter from the EFCC in early December 2023, requesting details of all foreign exchange allocations by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from 2014 to the present. The group highlighted that similar requests were sent to 51 other corporate entities, spanning the same period.
Upon receipt of the EFCC’s letter, the company responded by seeking clarification on the specific subsidiaries or entities within the Group for which information was required. Additionally, the Dangote Group requested extended time to collate and present the extensive documentation covering a decade.
Despite their request for clarification and an extension, the EFCC proceeded to demand the complete set of documents within a limited timeframe. The group’s representatives delivered the first batch of documents on January 4, 2024. However, EFCC officers declined to accept the documents, insisting on visiting the group’s offices to collect the same set of documents directly.
Simultaneously, while the Dangote Group’s representatives were at the EFCC’s office to deliver the documents, another team from the EFCC visited their offices, seemingly aiming to obtain the same documents in a manner perceived as causing embarrassment.
The group emphasized that the EFCC has not leveled any accusations of wrongdoing against them. Their response to the EFCC’s request for information is intended to support the anti-graft agency’s ongoing investigation.
The Dangote Group’s statement sheds light on the sequence of events surrounding the EFCC visit, outlining their cooperative approach despite facing challenges in the process. The unfolding situation between the EFCC and the industrial conglomerate has raised interest and scrutiny within and beyond Nigeria’s business community.
