Dr. Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group and Africa’s richest man, has threatened a Kaduna-based businessman, Engr. Kailani Mohammed, with a N100 billion lawsuit over alleged defamatory statements made against him. The threat follows remarks made by Mohammed on TrustTV news, in which he accused Dangote of engaging in “unclean business” during the 1980s in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The letter, dated December 20, 2025, was delivered to Mohammed by Dangote’s lawyer, Dr. Ogwu James Onoja, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), of Onoja Law Firm in Abuja. Dangote has given the Kaduna businessman seven days to retract the statements, issue a public apology, and provide an explanation, warning that failure to comply would result in legal action.
In the strongly worded letter titled, “Demand for public explanation, retraction and unreserved public apology on your libelous publication against Alhaji Aliko Dangote, GCON,” Dangote’s legal team accused Mohammed of making “false, reckless, malicious, scandalous, and libelous publications” during an interview aired on December 17, 2025.
According to the letter, Mohammed had commented on a petition Dangote submitted to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against Dr. Farouk Ahmed. Dangote’s lawyers claimed Mohammed’s statements were defamatory, harmed Dangote’s reputation, and questioned the source of his wealth.
“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,” the letter read. “Through hard work, integrity, diligence, and perseverance over the years, our client has earned a reputation and honour that is recognised all over the world. Your statements are entirely fictitious, unfounded, malicious, and render you susceptible to both civil and criminal defamation action.”
Among the remarks highlighted in the letter, Mohammed was quoted 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 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.”
Dangote’s lawyers described these statements as “reckless and unguarded,” alleging that they deliberately impute unlawful or morally questionable conduct to Dangote and expose him to public hatred, ridicule, suspicion, and odium.
The letter also emphasized that at no time did Dangote engage in any business, commercial activity, or wealth-generating enterprise in Port Harcourt during the 1980s or any other period. The legal notice demands that Mohammed provide a public explanation, retract his statements, and issue a full, unreserved apology on the same media platform where the remarks were made.
In addition, Dangote is seeking N100 billion in damages for loss of reputation, character defamation, and public ridicule, along with a written undertaking from Mohammed to desist from making any further false statements. The letter warned that if the conditions are not met within seven days, Dangote will proceed with legal action in a competent court of law and may also report Mohammed to law enforcement agencies for criminal defamation.
This is not the first time Dangote has defended his reputation in court. Over the years, Dangote Group has pursued legal action against individuals or organisations that it claims have made false statements about the business magnate, reflecting the company’s commitment to protecting its founder’s image and commercial interests.
The controversy has sparked discussions across social media and news platforms. Some commentators argue that Dangote is justified in defending his name and integrity, while others have raised concerns about the N100 billion claim, describing it as unusually high. Legal experts explain that in cases involving international businessmen with substantial reputations, courts can award significant damages if defamation is proven.
The TrustTV interview that triggered the dispute focused on Dangote’s petition to the ICPC against Dr. Farouk Ahmed. Mohammed, a businessman with ties to Kaduna, reportedly used the platform to question Dangote’s source of wealth and suggested unethical practices in his early business career. Dangote’s legal team insists these claims are entirely baseless.
Nigeria’s corporate sector has frequently witnessed similar disputes, where business leaders pursue legal recourse to protect their reputation. Legal observers stress that such lawsuits serve both as a warning against false claims and as a method of upholding ethical standards in public discourse.
The development comes at a time when Dangote Group is expanding its operations across Africa and beyond. As the company grows, protecting the founder’s reputation becomes increasingly important, especially in dealings with international investors, governments, and partners.
As the seven-day deadline approaches, many Nigerians are watching closely to see whether Mohammed will issue a public retraction and apology or face the full force of Dangote’s legal action. The case could set a precedent for how high-profile defamation claims are handled in Nigeria’s courts.