Dangote Group, on Sunday, dismissed as false and malicious claims of a rift between its President, Aliko Dangote, and the Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu.
The company also rejected allegations that Dangote solicited support for financing his refinery project.
Dangote Group, in a statement on Sunday, described as “entirely baseless” a publication stating that Dangote had revealed why he distanced himself from Elumelu, stressing that neither the businessman nor the organisation made such remarks.
The statement, signed by the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, said the report misrepresented both personal and corporate positions, adding there was no disagreement between the two prominent business leaders.
“The Dangote Group has become aware of a publication titled ‘Aliko Dangote Speaks Out on Why He Distanced Himself from Tony Elumelu’, which is false, malicious, and baseless. At no time did the President or the Group make such statements or express such sentiments,” the statement read in part.
The company further dismissed claims that the multi-billion-dollar Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals was financed through personal borrowing from friends, describing such assertions as inaccurate and a deliberate misrepresentation of facts.
The group stressed that Dangote does not fund projects through informal personal loans, noting that any such claims should be backed by verifiable evidence.
“As a matter of principle, Aliko Dangote neither finances his projects through personal borrowing from friends nor engages in lending arrangements of that nature. Any individual making such claims should provide verifiable evidence to substantiate them,” the statement added.
It also clarified that there was no strain in the relationship between Dangote and Elumelu, maintaining that both men continue to enjoy a longstanding and cordial relationship despite the claims circulating in the report.
The clarification follows the circulation of a widely shared online post which alleged that Dangote fell out with Elumelu after a failed financial assistance request during the construction of the refinery.
In the post, attributed to Dangote but now disowned by the company, the author claimed that in 2021, when the refinery project was about half-completed, he ran out of funds and approached several business associates for support, including Femi Otedola, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Mike Adenuga, and Elumelu.
The post further alleged that Elumelu promised $20m but later became unreachable, while other associates reportedly raised $500m to support the project, with Otedola said to have contributed $300m.
But the Dangote Group said such claims were fabricated and should not be attributed to its president, reiterating that the financing narrative presented in the post was false.
Beyond the disputed publication, the company raised concerns over what it described as a growing trend of fabricated statements and the unauthorised use of Dangote’s identity in digitally manipulated content.
It warned that the misuse of his name, likeness, and image in artificial intelligence-generated advertisements and other misleading materials poses reputational risks and could amount to fraud.
“Furthermore, the group notes with concern a rising pattern of fabricated statements and the unauthorised use of Aliko Dangote’s name, likeness, and image in AI-generated advertisements and other misleading content. These actions amount to reputational harm and potential fraud,” the statement said.
The company cautioned individuals, organisations, and platforms involved in creating or disseminating false information to desist immediately, warning that it would not hesitate to pursue legal action where necessary to protect its reputation and that of its leadership.
The Dangote Group reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining high standards of integrity while continuing its industrial and economic contributions across Africa, particularly in advancing self-sufficiency and sustainable development.
