President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Kaduna-based businessman Kailani Mohammed, demanding a public retraction and apology over alleged defamatory statements or face a ₦100 billion lawsuit.
In a letter dated December 20, 2025, served through his lawyer, Dr Ogwu James Onoja, SAN, Dangote accused Mohammed of making libellous claims during an interview aired on TrustTV on December 17, 2025. The remarks were reportedly made in reaction to Dangote’s petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against the former CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed.
Dangote’s legal team said the Kaduna businessman accused him of engaging in “unclean” business activities in Port Harcourt in the 1980s and questioned the legitimacy of his wealth. The letter described these claims as false, malicious, scandalous, and damaging to Dangote’s reputation as an international businessman.
According to the letter, Dangote categorically denied ever conducting any business or wealth-generating activities in Port Harcourt at any time, including the 1980s. He stated that the allegations were entirely unfounded and capable of exposing the speaker to both civil and criminal liability.
Dangote is demanding that Mohammed, within seven days:
• Publicly explain and substantiate the allegations on the same TrustTV platform.
• Retract the statements in full if unable to provide verifiable proof.
• Issue an unreserved public apology with equal prominence to the original broadcast.
• Pay ₦100 billion in damages for reputational harm.
• Provide a written undertaking to refrain from further defamatory statements.
The letter warned that failure to comply would result in immediate legal action without further notice, including claims for aggravated damages and possible criminal defamation proceedings.
As of the time of this report, Kailani Mohammed has not publicly responded to the demands.
