Chairman of the Dangote Group, Dr. Aliko Dangote, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to a Kaduna-based businessman, Engr. Kailani Mohammed, demanding a public retraction and apology over alleged defamatory statements or risk a ₦100 billion lawsuit.
In a letter dated December 20, 2025, Dangote’s legal team, led by Dr. Ogwu James Onoja, SAN, of Onoja Law Firm, Abuja, accused Mohammed of making libellous remarks that questioned the source of Dangote’s wealth and alleged involvement in “unclean business” activities in Port Harcourt during the 1980s.
The disputed comments were reportedly made by Mohammed during an interview aired on TrustTV News on December 17, 2025, while responding to questions surrounding his petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against former NMDPRA boss, Dr. Farouk Ahmed.
In the letter titled “Demand for Public Explanation, Retraction and Unreserved Public Apology on Your Libellous Publication Against Alhaji Aliko Dangote, GCON,” Dangote’s lawyers described the remarks as false, malicious, and damaging to the businessman’s global reputation.
“Our client is a highly reputable international businessman whose success is founded on hard work, integrity, diligence, and perseverance,” the letter stated, adding that the comments portrayed Dangote as engaging in vendetta, monopolistic practices, and morally questionable conduct.
Mohammed was quoted as challenging Dangote to explain the source of his wealth in the 1980s and alleging undisclosed business activities in Port Harcourt.
Responding to the allegations, Dangote categorically denied ever conducting any business or commercial activities in Port Harcourt at any point in his life, describing the claims as fictitious and unfounded.
The letter warned that the statements exposed Mohammed to both civil and criminal defamation proceedings.
Dangote’s legal team outlined several demands to be met within seven days, including a public explanation on TrustTV, a full retraction of the statements, an unreserved public apology with equal prominence, payment of ₦100 billion in damages, and a written undertaking to refrain from further defamatory remarks.
The letter further warned that failure to comply would result in immediate legal action, including claims for aggravated damages and possible criminal prosecution.
