Dangote Group Condemns EFCC’s Handling of Document Request

Dangote Industries Limited has responded to the recent visit by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to its headquarters in Lagos, characterizing it as an uncomfortable situation. The indigenous conglomerate stated its willingness to cooperate with the Commission’s inquiries, revealing that it had received a letter from the EFCC on December 6, 2023. The letter requested details of all foreign exchange allocations from the Central Bank of Nigeria to the company from 2014 to the present.

In a statement, the company clarified that the EFCC’s request was not exclusive to Dangote Group, as similar letters were sent to 51 other groups of companies, covering the same period. Dangote Group responded to the EFCC’s letter, seeking clarification on the specific subsidiaries or companies within the group that the Commission required information on. Additionally, the company requested additional time to compile the extensive documentation spanning ten years.

Despite the company’s request for clarification and an extension, the EFCC did not provide the sought-after clarification and insisted on receiving the complete set of documents within the given timeframe. Dangote Group assured the EFCC of its commitment to providing the information and pledged to share the documents in batches as they were compiled.

On January 4, 2024, the company’s team delivered the first batch of documents to the EFCC. However, the EFCC officials did not accept the documents and instead visited Dangote Group’s offices to demand the same documents, which the company found to be unnecessary and potentially embarrassing. Notably, no accusations of wrongdoing have been made against any company within the group, and the current response is limited to providing information to aid the EFCC’s investigation.

Dangote Group emphasized its commitment to cooperating with the EFCC and its dedication to playing a significant role in Nigeria’s economy. As a law-abiding corporate entity, the group aims to provide all necessary information and cooperation to the EFCC. Despite the challenges encountered, the group remains focused on fulfilling its obligations and contributing to the country’s economic growth.

Daily Trust