Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has responded to rumours of his death by some websites, describing it as ‘malicious’. 

Media publication had claimed Sunday that the business magnate had died at the age of 59 in Germany after a short ailment. The report claimed his family confirmed the news to a so-called German DW-TV3.

The said publication has since gone viral on social media with some expressing shock at purported demise of the great African who owns one of the most diversified business conglomerates in Africa.

But as the news began to gain credibility and prominence on the Internet, the man took to micro-blogging site Twitter to deny the rumour, saying he is “hearty and alive”.

“I am hale, hearty and alive. Please disregard malicious report saying otherwise. Thank you,” he tweeted few hours ago.

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

— Aliko Dangote (@AlikoDangote) September 25, 2016

Dangote, according to the Forbes, is now at least $2.5 billion poorer since its annual ranking of Billionaires in March this year. At the time, he was worth $15.4 billion.

His fortune currently stands at $12.9 billion, a fortune decline said to have caused by Nigeria’s recent devaluation of the Naira.

By 3news.com|Ghana