There is a serious trouble for Aliko Dangote after operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, reportedly stormed the head office of the Dangote Group in Lagos on Thursday in connection with an alleged roundtripping.
Leadership newspapers had reported that Dangote’s office was raided by EFCC officials in connection with the agency’s ongoing investigation into the foreign exchange transactions during the tenure of former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele, who is also being prosecuted by the anti graft agency.
Sources said the raid was intended to search the Dangote’s Office for vital documents that could assist the agency in its investigation.
The EFCC raid comes after Dangote lost his position as Africa’s Richest man to a South African businessman. Close sources to the Nigerian business mogul said he has faced serious problem since the administration of Bola Tinubu came to power this year.
Though the cause of Dangote’s problem with the Tinubu’s administration has yet to be known, those close to him said, this may not be unconnected b with his support for Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, during last year’s pesidential election.
Tinubu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the election defeated Atiku who came second in the election.
Concerning the EFCC investigation, the commission was said to have written letters to 52 companies directing them to supply documents supporting the allocation and utilisation of foreign currency in the last 10 years.
But in November 2023, Dangote Group denied allegations of foreign exchange (forex) malpractices and money laundering of the sum of $3.4 billion.
The EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, was unreachable for comment on the matter when filing this report.
The spokesperson for the Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina, could not also be reached to comment on this development.
