Aliko Dangote, president of the Dangote Group, has given a seven-day ultimatum to Kaduna businessman Engr. Kailani Mohammed, demanding a retraction of alleged defamatory statements or face a N100 billion lawsuit. The statements, made during a TrustTV interview, questioned the source of Dangote's wealth in the 1980s in Port Harcourt. Dangote denies any business activities there and accuses Mohammed of tarnishing his reputation.
On December 20, 2025, Dr. Aliko Dangote, through his lawyer Dr. Ogwu James Onoja, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, sent a letter to Engr. Kailani Mohammed demanding a public explanation, retraction, and unreserved apology for statements made during an interview on TrustTV News on December 17, 2025. The interview was in reaction to Mohammed's petition against Dr. Farouk Ahmed to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Mohammed allegedly said: “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. Nobody came out and said all these things.”
The letter describes these as “false, scandalous and gravely deliberate imputations of unlawful or morally questionable conduct” that expose Dangote to “public hatred, ridicule, suspicion and odium.” It emphasizes Dangote's reputation as the richest black man and owner of Africa's largest business conglomerate, built through hard work and integrity.
Dangote categorically denies conducting any business in Port Harcourt in the 1980s or at any time, calling the assertions “entirely fictitious, unfounded, malicious.” The demands, to be met within seven days, include a public explanation on TrustTV, full retraction, apology with equal prominence, payment of N100 billion in damages, and a written undertaking to avoid further statements.
Failure to comply will lead to legal action for aggravated damages and a report to law enforcement for criminal defamation. The letter warns that such unproven allegations on national media abuse freedom of expression.
