- A 19-year-old blogger has been formally arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly fabricating and spreading a malicious story about the family of billionaire banker Tony Elumelu.
- The prosecution revealed that the teenager used a verified social media handle to falsely claim the businessman divorced his wife following a DNA test dispute, pulling in nearly two million views.
- Following a “not guilty” plea, the trial judge ordered that the young defendant be kept in correctional custody until mid-June when the newly served bail application will be formally argued.
The police on Friday, May 29, 2026, arraigned a 19-year-old blogger, Nurenorue Surpruchi, before the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly publishing defamatory and highly malicious content against the Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Tony Elumelu.
Appearing before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, Eko Hot Blog reports that the teenager faced a four-count charge encompassing conspiracy, cyberstalking, bullying, and defamation.
Surpruchi entered a plea of not guilty to all counts brought forward by the police prosecution.
EDITOR’S PICK
- Fresh Details Emerge on Death of Odomola Monarch, Oba Adebowale Adeshina
- Sanwo-Olu Applauds LASU’s Academic Excellence After JAMB Ranking
- NRC Moves 176,820 Tonnes Of Cargo Through Lagos Ports In Q1
According to the case file presented by prosecution counsel A.G. Obi from the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon, Lagos, the defendant conspired with several other individuals currently at large on April 5, 2026.
The group allegedly utilized a digital computer network to deliberately distribute false, damaging, and offensive information aimed at harassing the business mogul.
Specifically, the prosecution stated that the 19-year-old utilized an X (formerly Twitter) account registered under the handle “@PROBLElEMCHIMKYI” to state that Elumelu had divorced his wife after discovering through DNA tests that none of his seven children belonged to him.
The defamatory post generated significant digital traction, accumulating roughly 1.9 million views, 1,600 reposts, 6,300 likes, and over 600 saves, which the state argues subjected the UBA chairman to severe public ridicule and reputational harm.
Upon the conclusion of the defendant’s plea, the prosecutor informed the court that while the state was fully prepared to begin the trial, they had just received the defense’s bail application earlier that day.
Requesting a short window to examine the application and file a formal counter-affidavit, Obi urged the court to remand the teenager in a correctional facility pending a definitive hearing.
Defense counsel A. Edoh conceded that the bail paperwork was served late and requested a brief adjournment to address the matter.
Consequently, Justice Lewis-Allagoa adjourned the proceedings until June 19, 2026, for the official hearing of the bail application and ordered that Surpruchi be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
The alleged infractions are noted to contravene Sections 24(1)(b), 24(2)(a), and 27(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended), alongside provisions within the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.
