By Steven Atokolo
President of the Dangote Group, Dr. Aliko Dangote, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to a Kaduna-based businessman, Engr. Kailani Mohammed, demanding a retraction of what he described as a libellous publication or face a N100 billion defamation suit.
Dangote, through a letter written by his lawyer, Dr. Ogwu James Onoja, SAN, of Onoja Law Firm, Abuja, also demanded an immediate public explanation, retraction and an unreserved apology from Mohammed for allegedly accusing him of engaging in “unclean” business practices, particularly in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, during the 1980s.
The letter, dated December 20, 2025, accused the Kaduna businessman of making statements that damaged Dangote’s reputation and questioned the legitimacy of his wealth as Africa’s richest man.
According to the letter, the alleged defamatory remarks were made by Engr. Mohammed during an interview aired on TrustTV News on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. The interview was reportedly in reaction to Mohammed’s petition against Dr. Farouk Ahmed submitted to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Titled “Demand for Public Explanation, Retraction and Unreserved Public Apology on Your Libellous Publication against Alhaji Aliko Dangote, GCON,” the letter stated that Dangote is a globally respected businessman who has built his reputation through years of hard work, integrity, diligence and perseverance.
The lawyer noted that during the TrustTV broadcast, Mohammed allegedly made false, reckless, malicious and scandalous statements portraying Dangote as a corrupt businessman with monopolistic tendencies, who engaged in morally questionable conduct and vendetta-driven campaigns to bring down others.
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.”
Dangote’s lawyer described the statements as false, scandalous and deliberately calculated to expose his client to public hatred, ridicule, suspicion and odium, adding that they had significantly damaged his standing among members of the international community, including business partners, associates and governments of countries where he operates.
The letter further stated that Dangote categorically denied ever engaging in any business or commercial activity in Port Harcourt in the 1980s or at any other time, describing the allegations as fictitious, unfounded and malicious.
As part of the demands, Mohammed was asked to, within seven days of receiving the letter, publicly explain on the same TrustTV platform when, where and in what capacity Dangote allegedly engaged in any unclean activity in Port Harcourt. He was also required, in the absence of verifiable evidence, to retract the statements in their entirety and issue a full, clear and unreserved public apology with equal prominence to the original broadcast.
Additionally, Dangote demanded N100 billion in damages for loss of reputation, character defamation and public ridicule, as well as a written undertaking from Mohammed to refrain from making or publishing further defamatory statements against him.
The letter warned that failure to comply with the demands within the stipulated time would compel Dangote to institute legal action without further notice, including claims for aggravated damages. It also noted that Dangote reserved the right to petition law enforcement agencies for investigation and possible prosecution for criminal defamation.
The lawyer emphasized that making unproven allegations on a national media platform constitutes an abuse of the right to freedom of expression and attracts both civil and criminal liability.
