Aliko Dangote, chairman of Dangote Group, has given a Kaduna-based businessman, Engr. Kailani Mohammed, seven days to retract alleged defamatory statements or face a ₦100 billion lawsuit.
Gatekeepers News reports that through his lawyer, Dr. Ogwu James Onoja, SAN of Onoja Law Firm, Abuja, Dangote demanded a public explanation, full retraction, and unreserved apology over claims that he engaged in unclean business in Port Harcourt in the 1980s.
The letter, dated December 20, 2025, accused Mohammed of defaming Dangote, damaging his reputation, and questioning the source of his wealth.
The statements were allegedly made by Mohammed during an interview on TrustTV News on December 17, 2025, in response to his petition against Dr. Farouk Ahmed submitted to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The letter reads, “We are solicitors to Alhaji Aliko Dangote and we write pursuant to his express instructions regarding grievously libellous statements broadcast by TrustTV News and uttered by you during an interview aired on Wednesday, 17th December, 2025 in reaction to the petition submitted by our client to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).”
“Our client is a widely reputable international businessman. He is the richest black man on earth and he has the largest business conglomerate in Africa. Our client, through dint of hard work, integrity, diligence and perseverance over the years, earned for himself the reputation and honour he is reckoned with all over the world.”
“Your statement also portrayed our client as a very cruel businessman whose stock-in-trade is vendetta and a campaign of calumny to bring down others and exert monopolistic powers.”
The letter 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? Every time when you want to monopolize, you bring allegations against people. Let him come and prove it. In the 80s, we are aware of what happened in Port Harcourt and how he got his money. Nobody came out and said all these things.”
Responding, Dangote’s lawyer described the statements as false, scandalous and gravely deliberate imputations of unlawful or morally questionable conduct against our client and are calculated to expose him to public hatred, ridicule, suspicion and odium.
The letter stressed that the claims had lowered Dangote’s reputation internationally among business partners, associates, and governments where he operates.
Dangote also categorically denied ever conducting business in Port Harcourt at any time. The letter stated, “Take note that our client categorically states that at no time in his life has he carried out any business, commercial activity or wealth-generating enterprise in Port Harcourt, whether in the 1980s or at any other period whatsoever as you alleged. Your assertions are therefore entirely fictitious, unfounded, malicious and, without doubt, render you susceptible to both civil and criminal defamatory action.”
Within seven days, the businessman is required to publicly explain, retract the statements in full, issue an unreserved apology, pay ₦100 billion in damages, and provide a written undertaking to refrain from further defamatory statements.
The letter concluded, “Be advised that allegations of this nature made without proof on a national media platform are indefensible in law and amount to a gross abuse of the right to freedom of expression, which will culminate in both civil and criminal liability.”
“Take further notice that should you fail to comply with the conditions stated above within the time frame, our client shall, without further recourse to you, institute legal action at a competent court of law and claim aggravated damages.”
“This is without prejudice to our client’s right to make a formal report against you to law enforcement agencies for investigation and prosecution for criminal defamation.”
