Retract Statement , Apologise Within 7 Days or Face N100 Billion Defamation Suit, Dangote Warns Kailani Mohammed

President of the Dangote Group, Dr Aliko Dangote, has issued a seven-day notice to a Kaduna-based businessman, Kailani Mohammed, demanding a full retraction and public apology over what he described as defamatory statements, or risk a N100 billion legal action.

In a formal letter dated December 20, 2025, Dangote accused Mohammed of making damaging claims that questioned his integrity, business history and source of wealth.

The letter insisted on an immediate public clarification, withdrawal of the statements and an unreserved apology.

The correspondence was delivered to the Kaduna businessman through Dangote’s legal counsel, Dr Ogwu James Onoja, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and principal partner at Onoja Law Firm, Abuja.

According to the letter, Dangote expressed concern that the remarks portrayed him as having engaged in unethical business practices, particularly during the 1980s in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

He further stated that the allegations were capable of undermining his personal reputation and the credibility of his extensive business interests.

The disputed comments were reportedly made by Mohammed during an interview broadcast on TrustTV News on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. The interview followed Mohammed’s petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) concerning Dr Farouk Ahmed. Dangote maintained that the publication was false, malicious and injurious, noting that it unjustly cast doubt on his standing as Africa’s richest man and a globally recognised industrialist.

The letter, titled “Demand for public explanation, retraction and unreserved public apology on your libellous publication against Alhaji Aliko Dangote, GCON,” was signed by Dr Onoja. It warned that failure to comply within seven days would leave Dangote with no option but to seek redress through the courts.