Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote is not dead

Rumoured death of Africa’s richest man, Nigerian Aliko Dangote has gained his attention on Sunday after the false news spread across several news websites.

Dangote tweeted at 14:00 GMT that he is alive and people should disregard the malicious report.

“I am hale, hearty and alive. Please disregard malicious report saying otherwise. Thank you,” he said.

I am hale, hearty and alive. Please disregard malicious report saying otherwise. Thank you.

— Aliko Dangote (@AlikoDangote) September 25, 2016

The rumour is believed to have started from a German website on Sunday morning and later picked up by many websites in Africa.

The website reported that Dangote had “died in Germany after a short illness which was confirmed by his family”.

Nigerian media are reporting that Aliko Dangote’s lawyers are in the process of taking legal action against the website which still has the story online.

Aliko Dangote is the 67th richest person in the world and the richest in Africa with an estimated net worth of US$12.9 billion as at September, according to Forbes. This is a decline from $15.4 billion in March due to Nigeria’s recent devaluation of the Naira.