11th October, 2022
Dangote Group has dismissed allegations that it was responsible for the fire outbreak at the Kogi State House of Assembly, saying that it was a ‘smear campaign’.
This is contained in a statement signed by Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief Branding & Communications Officer, Dangote Industries Limited.
A statement titled, ‘Obajana: Desperation sets in as imported hoodlums burn down Kogi Assembly’ and signed by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo pointedly accused Dangote of burning the Complex.
Fanwo said the fire is “in an attempt to possibly destroy evidence relating to the ownership tussle between the Kogi State Government and the Dangote Group over the Obajana Cement Company.”
In response, Chiejine said that as a socially responsible corporate entity, the company would never engage in such an act.
“Our attention has been drawn to a circulating press statement issued by the Kogi State Government, wherein the Dangote Group was accused of allegedly sponsoring arsonists to set the Kogi State House of Assembly on fire in the early hours of Monday, October 10, 2022.
“Dangote Group would never stoop so low as to sponsor thugs to destroy any property, belonging to either a government or any individual. This runs contrary to our business ethos and everything we stand for as a leading manufacturer with teeming customers and consumers across Nigeria and Africa.
“Our lawyers have been mandated to react appropriately to the damaging allegation from the Kogi State Government within the full extent of the law.
“We urge our stakeholders and the public to disregard such irresponsible and insane statements as we ask all our stakeholders, namely shareholders, customers, suppliers, employees, and the entire community of Obajana and Kogi State at large to remain calm while we follow the legitimate and lawful process to resolve this matter with the State government,” the statement said.