Dangote Allegedly Sues Ex-Girlfriend Over $5 Million Extortion
Earlier this month, social media was awash with a short video clip that showed a part of Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote’s buttocks. The clip was alleged to have been posted by one of the billionaire’s former girlfriend.
The footage generated wide reactions from many Nigerians, who were shocked about the incident, with many taking to social media to air their views.
Though the noise on social media has died down a bit, the matter is yet to be settled as reports say that Dangote has told a court in the United States that his former American girlfriend, who exposed his body part in the video is attempting to extort $5 million from him.
On Thursday, Nigerian online newspaper, Premium Times, stated that it had obtained documents relating to a civil suit allegedly filed by Mr. Dangote with a pseudonym, John Doe, with “AD,” which stands for the acronym of his name as an alias. The suit is against his former girlfriend, now identified as Autumn Spikes. Dangote seeks excess of $30,000 in damages against Miss Spikes.
A court document filed by the plaintiff on the 22nd of January has the title, “Complaint petition for declaratory judgment complaint for (about) extortion petition for injunctive relief.”
The document along with the others obtained, accused Ms. Spikes of libel, defamation, cyberstalking and a breach of agreement ”to keep their relationship private and off the social media”.
It further stated that Mr. Dangote’s “business acumen has made him a target for coercion by the defendant”, adding that Ms. Spikes demanded “meritless claims of $5 million” in the nature of “palimony to which she is not legally entitled.”
Dangote’s court document also states that “Autumn Spikes has made a demand that the plaintiff pays her five million dollars ($5,000,000.00).”
