May 03, (THEWILL) — The Dangote Group has dismissed as false and malicious, reports alleging a rift between its President, Aliko Dangote, and the Group Chairman of United Bank for Africa, Tony Elumelu, insisting that both business leaders maintain a cordial and longstanding relationship.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, the company described the publication circulating online as “entirely baseless”, stressing that it misrepresented both the personal and corporate positions of Dangote and the organisation.
The company also rejected claims that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery was financed through personal borrowing from friends, describing the allegation as inaccurate and a deliberate distortion of facts.
According to the statement, neither Dangote nor the company made the comments attributed to them in the report.
“As a matter of principle, Aliko Dangote neither finances his projects through personal borrowing from friends nor engages in lending arrangements of that nature”, the statement read.
The Group further maintained that any claims regarding such financial arrangements must be backed by verifiable evidence, warning against the spread of misinformation capable of misleading the public and damaging reputations.
Dangote Group reiterated that there is no disagreement between Dangote and Elumelu, noting that both prominent entrepreneurs have maintained mutual respect and a healthy professional relationship over the years.
The company expressed concern over what it described as a growing trend of fabricated statements and the unauthorised use of Dangote’s name, image and likeness in artificial intelligence-generated advertisements and misleading digital content.
It warned that such activities pose serious reputational risks and could amount to fraud, particularly where false claims are circulated to deceive members of the public.
The statement cautioned individuals, blogs and online platforms involved in creating or disseminating false information to desist immediately, adding that the company would not hesitate to pursue legal action where necessary to protect its reputation and that of its leadership.
Dangote Group reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of corporate integrity and transparency while continuing to promote industrialisation, economic self-sufficiency and sustainable development across Africa.
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