The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has summoned officials of the Dangote Group to its headquarters in Abuja to provide detailed documents on foreign exchange transactions conducted by the conglomerate over the last nine years. The move comes in the wake of an investigation into the alleged abuse of foreign exchange allocations by the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
EFCC Operatives reportedly searched at the headquarters of Dangote Industries Limited in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday. The anti-graft commission is specifically probing the alleged preferential allocations of forex to the Dangote Group, owned by Africa’s wealthiest man, Aliko Dangote, along with 51 other companies during Emefiele’s tenure at the CBN.
Sources revealed that documents were seized during Thursday’s search at the group’s head office. However, it was noted that the obtained documents did not cover all the transactions under investigation, prompting the EFCC to summon Dangote Group officials to submit the remaining documents in Abuja on Tuesday.
An EFCC official clarified the intention behind the summons, stating, “The idea is not to be seen as witch-hunting anyone. The commission wants to get evidence and details of how government funds were allocated, and that is all.”
The officials from the Dangote Group are expected to appear at the EFCC’s office on Tuesday, providing further insight into the ongoing investigation. The probe focuses on scrutinizing the allocation and utilization of government funds during Emefiele’s leadership at the CBN.