President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to a Kaduna-based businessman, Kailani Mohammed, demanding a retraction of alleged defamatory statements or face a ₦100 billion lawsuit.
Demand Letter Issued
In a formal letter dated December 20, 2025, Dangote, through his legal representatives, demanded an immediate public explanation, retraction, and an unreserved apology over comments said to have been made against him and his business interests.
The letter was served on Mohammed by Dangote’s lawyer, Ogwu James Onoja, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and principal partner at Onoja Law Firm, Abuja.
Allegations at the Centre of the Dispute
According to the letter, the disputed remarks were made by Mohammed during an interview aired on Trust TV on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. The comments were reportedly made in reaction to a petition involving Farouk Ahmed, which had been submitted to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Dangote alleged that the interview contained claims suggesting he engaged in “unclean” or morally questionable business activities in Port Harcourt in the 1980s, and also questioned the legitimacy of his source of wealth.
Dangote Rejects Claims
In the letter titled “Demand for public explanation, retraction and unreserved public apology on your libelous publication against Alhaji Aliko Dangote, GCON,” Dangote described the allegations as false, malicious, and damaging to his reputation.
He categorically denied ever conducting any business or wealth-generating activity in Port Harcourt at any time, including the 1980s, stating that the assertions were entirely fictitious and unfounded.
The letter further stated that the comments portrayed Dangote as corrupt, monopolistic, and vindictive, claims which his legal team said were calculated to expose him to public ridicule, suspicion, and reputational harm both locally and internationally.
Demands Made Within Seven Days
Dangote’s legal team demanded that Mohammed, within seven days of receiving the letter:
Publicly explain, on the same Trust TV platform, the basis of his claims.
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 broadcast.
Pay ₦100 billion in damages for alleged reputational harm and defamation.
Provide a written undertaking to refrain from making further defamatory statements.
Legal Action Threatened
The letter warned that failure to comply with the demands within the stipulated timeframe would result in legal action without further notice. It also noted that Dangote reserves the right to report the matter to law enforcement agencies for possible investigation and prosecution for criminal defamation.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Mohammed nor Trust TV has publicly responded to the demands outlined in the letter.
