Police Arraign 19-Year-Old Blogger Over Alleged Defamation Of Tony Elumelu

The police in Lagos on Friday arraigned a 19-year-old blogger, Nurenorue Surpruchi, before the Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged cyberstalking and defamation of the chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Tony Elumelu.

Surpruchi was docked before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Alagoa on a four-count charge bordering on cyberstalking, bullying and defamation.

The prosecution alleged that the defendant conspired with others on April 5, 2026, to use a computer system to publish false and damaging information about Elumelu.

It further alleged that Surpruchi used an X (formerly Twitter) account, “@PROBLElEMCHIMKYI,” to falsely claim that Elumelu had divorced his wife following DNA tests allegedly showing that none of his seven children were his.

Prosecutor, Mrs. Gloria Obi, told the court that the post reached about 1.9 million users, was reposted 1,600 times, liked over 6,300 times, and saved by 601 users.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges brought under the Cybercrimes Act 2015 and Sections 373 and 375 of the Criminal Code.

Following his plea, the prosecution urged the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant at the Ikoyi Custodial Centre pending trial.

However, defence counsel, Anthony Edoh, informed the court that a bail application had already been filed and was ready for hearing.

The prosecution opposed the hearing of the bail application, arguing that it had just been served in court and required time to respond.

Justice Lewis-Allagoa subsequently adjourned the matter to June 19 for hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in custody.