Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, criticized the EFCC's recent raid on his company, claiming it aimed to embarrass the Dangote Group. Despite ongoing investigations into forex allocations, Dangote maintains his company's operations are transparent and compliant with regulations, asserting it plays a vital role in Nigeria's economy.
Aliko Dangote, Africa’s wealthiest individual, spoke out about a recent raid by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Dangote Group’s headquarters in Lagos. He asserted that the visit was meant to humiliate his company, noting that no discussions took place and no arrests were made.
The EFCC's inquiry centers on allegations concerning preferential foreign exchange allocations to the Dangote Group and 51 other companies associated with former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele. Despite these allegations, Dangote affirmed that his operations are “100 percent clean” and underscored the company’s critical role in Nigeria’s economy, stating it is the highest tax-paying organization in the country.
A representative from Dangote highlighted that the company had fully complied with EFCC requests before the raid, questioning the rationale behind the visit. They had already provided the necessary documents, including Forms A and M, which detail forex allocations over the past decade.
Before the raid occurred, Dangote Industries had categorically denied any involvement in foreign exchange malpractices or money laundering, especially regarding claims of $3.4 billion linked to Emefiele. The company clarified that it had received prior approvals from the Central Bank to acquire forex for various projects across Africa, with a substantial amount remaining unused.
