Dangote: We’ll Resolve Dispute With Oceanic--Says Aliko Does Not Own Dansa Oil & Gas
By Kayode Ekundayo, Lagos
Dangote Industries Limited said yesterday that there has been dispute over the N2.5 billion debt charges with Oceanic Bank Plc and that they are close to a resolution.
The company also exonerated Alhaji Aliko Dangote from being the owner of Dansa Oil and Gas.
Dangote management said in a statement: “We refer to the CBN advertorial in various print publications dated 19th August 2009, listing Alhaji Aliko Dangote as a Director and Shareholder of Dansa Oil and Gas Limited, a defaulting customer to Intercontinental Bank Plc. We wish to state for the records that Alhaji Aliko Dangote is neither a Director nor a Shareholder of Dansa Oil and Gas Limited as averred.
“It is important to note that Alhaji Aliko Dangote is not the same as Ali Dangote as erroneously published in the CBN advertorial. Ali Dangote is the son of Alhaji Sani Dangote. Form CAC7 of the Corporate Affairs Commission shows Ali Dangote's signature which is very different from Alhaji Aliko Dangote's signature. Furthermore Alhaji Aliko Dangote has no part in the management and running of Dansa Oil and Gas Limited,” it said.
The management said the information provided is verifiable through the Company Registration documents held by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) wherein directors of the said company are listed as: Alhaji Sani Dangote, Alhaji Mohammed Dangote and Mr Ali Dangote.
According to the company, a letter has been written to the Central Bank of Nigeria to correct this misrepresentation and to request the removal of the name of Alhaji Aliko Dangote from the list of non-performing debtors of Intercontinental Bank Plc.
“A company of our size will take on facilities from bankers and financiers in the course of our business. As a responsible organization we deliver to our obligations in servicing these loans. It is on record that our credit rating remains admirable and our bankers have confidence in our ability to meet our obligations,” it stated.