President 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 what he described as defamatory statements or face a N100 billion lawsuit.
In a letter dated December 20, 2025, Dangote accused Mohammed of making libelous claims during a televised interview aired on TrustTV on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. The interview was in reaction to a petition submitted to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) concerning Engr. Farouk Ahmed.
The letter, served through Dangote’s lawyer, Dr. Ogwu James Onoja, SAN, of Onoja Law Firm, Abuja, demanded an immediate public explanation, retraction, and an unreserved apology. Dangote also seeks ₦100 billion in damages for alleged injury to his reputation.
According to the letter, Mohammed accused Dangote of engaging in “unclean business” activities in Port Harcourt in the 1980s and questioned the source of his wealth. Dangote described the allegations as false, reckless, malicious, and damaging to his personal and business reputation.
Titled “Demand for Public Explanation, Retraction, and Unreserved Public Apology on Your Libelous Publication Against Alhaji Aliko Dangote, GCON,” the letter stated that the businessman’s remarks portrayed Dangote as corrupt, monopolistic, and vindictive, thereby exposing him to public ridicule and suspicion locally and internationally.
Dangote categorically denied ever engaging in any business activity in Port Harcourt in the 1980s or at any other time, insisting that the claims were entirely fictitious and unfounded.
The letter demanded that Mohammed, within seven days of receipt:
Publicly explain on the same TrustTV platform when, where, and in what capacity Dangote was allegedly involved in any improper activity in Port Harcourt;
Retract the statements in their entirety if unable to substantiate them with verifiable facts;
Issue a full and unreserved public apology with equal prominence to the original publication;
Pay ₦100 billion in damages for alleged loss of reputation and public ridicule; and
Provide a written undertaking to desist from making further defamatory statements.
Dangote warned that failure to comply with the demands within the stipulated time would result in legal action without further notice, including claims for aggravated damages. He also reserved the right to report the matter to law enforcement agencies for possible criminal defamation proceedings.
The letter stressed that making unproven allegations on a national media platform constitutes an abuse of freedom of expression and attracts both civil and criminal liability.
This comes as Mohammed, in a recent interview, asked Dangote to tell Nigerians how he made his wealth, questioning the investors’ allegations against the former Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
Ahmed tendered his resignation after Dangote accused him of paying $5 million for his children’s foreign education.
