Dangote issues 7-day ultimatum, threatens ₦100bn libel suit against Kaduna businessman

President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to a Kaduna-based businessman, Kailani Mohammed, demanding a public retraction and apology over alleged defamatory remarks or face a ₦100 billion lawsuit.

The demand was contained in a letter dated December 20, 2025, written by Dangote’s lawyer, Ogwu Onoja (SAN), and served on Mohammed. The letter accused Mohammed of making false and malicious statements questioning Dangote’s source of wealth and alleging involvement in “unclean business” activities in Port Harcourt in the 1980s.

The remarks were reportedly made during a TrustTV News interview aired on December 17, 2025, in which Mohammed commented on a petition submitted to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) involving a former chief executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed.

In the letter titled “Demand for public explanation, retraction and unreserved public apology on your libellous publication against Alhaji Aliko Dangote,” Dangote’s legal team said the comments had seriously damaged his reputation at home and abroad.

“Our client is a globally respected businessman whose wealth and success are the result of hard work, integrity and diligence,” the letter stated, describing Dangote as Africa’s largest industrialist and the world’s richest Black man.

The lawyers described Mohammed’s statements as false, scandalous and calculated to expose Dangote to public ridicule, portraying him as corrupt and vindictive. They quoted Mohammed as saying: “Can Dangote tell us the source of his money in the 80s when he was in Port Harcourt? Who is clean?”

Dangote firmly denied ever doing business or generating wealth in Port Harcourt in the 1980s or at any time, dismissing the claims as unfounded and malicious.

He demanded that Mohammed, within seven days, either provide verifiable evidence of the allegations or publicly retract the statements and issue an unreserved apology with the same prominence as the original broadcast. Dangote is also seeking ₦100 billion in damages for reputational harm and a written commitment from Mohammed to refrain from further defamatory remarks.

The letter warned that failure to comply would result in legal action, including claims for aggravated damages and possible criminal defamation proceedings.