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Major reason EFCC stormed our office-Dangote
Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, says January’s visit by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to the Lagos Head Office of the Dangote Group was intended to embarrass his company.
Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg and monitored on Tuesday, Dangote stated, “They visited the office but didn’t talk to anybody, nor did they arrest anyone. It was just to cause embarrassment (sic).”
The visit by the anti-graft commission to the company was part of a probe into alleged preferential allocations of forex to the Dangote Group and 51 other companies under the Emefiele-led Central Bank of Nigeria.
Dangote meanwhile maintained that despite the challenges, their operations remain “100 per cent clean,” given their significant role in Nigeria’s economy.
He also emphasized his company’s reputation as the highest-paying organization in Nigeria, adding that Dangote Group pays more taxes than the banking sector.
EFCC had earlier written to the 52 companies directing them to provide documents supporting the allocation and utilisation of foreign exchange sold to them at official rates in the last 10 years.
The anti-graft commission had asked the firms to submit Form A and Form M which detailed the forex allocations to them between 2014 and June 2023.
But while some companies complied with the directive, several others were said to have asked for time to get the proper documents.
However, a Dangote official claimed the firm had honoured the EFCC’s request and wondered why the commission chose to embarrass them.
“We don’t know why they (EFCC officials) came to our office again; we had earlier been invited to the office of the EFCC. As such, the Dangote officials took along all the documents and submitted them. We don’t know why they eventually decided to visit our office again.
“The question we are asking is what did they come to take from our office when we had honoured their invitation? They left with empty hands because all the documents they wanted from us had been taken to them. The same EFCC that came to our office is the one giving information to the media that they are investigating us,’’ the official said.
Before the raid, Dangote Industries had in November 2023 refuted allegations that it was involved in forex malpractices and money laundering involving a staggering $3.4bn allegedly facilitated by Emefiele.
It denied the claims that the money was funnelled to its non-Nigerian subsidiaries, prompting illicit financial flows and round-tripping.
The company referred to past approvals granted by the CBN between 2010 to 2018, allowing it to purchase forex totalling $3.755bn for funding of its projects across Africa, of which only 47.70 per cent was utilised.
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Core Public Servants hail Tinubu for appointing thoroughbred Procurement officer, Adedokun as BPP DG
A group under the aegis of Core Public Servants, CPS hail President Bola Tinubu for appointing Dr Adebowale Adedokun, a thoroughbred Procurement officer as the Director General of Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP.
CPS in a congratulatory letter signed by Kudirat Akindero to Adedokun lauded President Tinubu for following due process and picking the most qualified to run the affairs of the soecialised agency.
In the letter, the ADSC said:
“Congratulations to Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, PhD (MCIPS, CMILT), on his appointment as the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
“This significant achievement reflects his extensive expertise and unwavering dedication to advancing public procurement in Nigeria.
“With over 20 years of robust experience in public service, Dr. Adedokun has made substantial contributions to procurement reform.
“His distinguished academic background includes a doctorate in Procurement and Supply Chain Management, complemented by four master’s degrees in Procurement, Finance, Technology, and Transportation Management.
” This diverse educational foundation equips him with a comprehensive understanding of the complexities inherent in procurement processes.
“In his career, Dr. Adedokun has held pivotal roles, including serving as a National Consultant for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on public procurement reforms.
“He represents Nigeria in the International Research Study on Public Procurement (IRSPP) and serves as a World Bank Resource Person on Sustainable Procurement. His commitment to capacity building is evident in his training of over 4,000 federal and state government procurement professionals nationwide.
” Additionally, he has been instrumental as the focal point officer for the UN Women Project aimed at empowering women in procurement in Nigeria and as the Project Coordinator/Procurement Node for the SPESSE – World Bank Project.
“Dr. Adedokun’s professional affiliations are extensive, including membership in the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), UK; Chartered Membership in the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport (CILT); Fellowship in the Institute of Strategic Management Nigeria (ISMN); Fellowship in the Institute of Management Consultants (ICMC), Nigeria; membership in the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (ACArb); Fellowship in the Nigeria Institute of Training & Development (NITAD); membership in the Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM); and membership in the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE).
In recognition of his consistent contributions to reform, Dr. Adedokun was honored with a Certificate of Special Recognition by USAID’s Nigerian Reforms Project in July 2009.
As he assumes the role of Director-General of the BPP, Dr. Adedokun’s extensive knowledge and experience are anticipated to significantly contribute to the agency’s strategic repositioning.
” His leadership is expected to advance efficiency, transparency, and accountability within Nigeria’s public procurement system.
Once again, congratulations to Dr. Adebowale Adedokun on this well-deserved appointment.
Core Public Servants hail Tinubu for appointing thoroughbred Procurement officer, Adedokun as BPP DG
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