The police have arraigned a 19-year-old blogger, Nwanorue John Surpruchi, before the Federal High Court in Lagos over the alleged defamation of the Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Tony Elumelu.

Surpruchi was arraigned before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa on a four-count charge bordering on alleged cyberstalking, cyberbullying, and defamation.

When the matter came up on Friday, the prosecutor, A.G. Obi, from the Directorate of Legal Services, Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon, Lagos, told the court that the defendant, alongside others still at large, published a defamatory report alleging that Elumelu had divorced his wife after discovering through DNA tests that none of his seven children were biologically his.

According to the prosecution, the publication was made on or about April 5, 2026, and was widely circulated across various social media platforms.

The prosecutor further informed the court that the post generated significant online engagement, attracting approximately 1.9 million views, more than 1,600 reposts, over 6,300 likes, and hundreds of saves by users.

Obi argued that the publication caused Elumelu and his family annoyance, hatred, ill will, intimidation, and reputational damage, while exposing them to public ridicule.

The prosecution maintained that the alleged offences contravened Sections 27(1)(b), 24(1)(b), and 24(2)(a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended), as well as Sections 373 and 375 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation 2004.

He subsequently urged the court to have the charges read to the defendant so that he could enter his plea.

When the charges were read, Surpruchi pleaded not guilty.

Following the plea, the prosecution indicated its readiness to proceed with the case. However, the prosecutor informed the court that a motion for bail had only been served earlier that morning and that additional time was required to study the application and file a response.

Consequently, the prosecution requested that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending the hearing and determination of the bail application. The prosecution also asked the court to fix a trial date.

Counsel to the defendant, Anslem Etoh, acknowledged the prosecution’s position but appealed for a short adjournment to enable the court hear the bail application.

After listening to both parties, Justice Lewis-Allagoa adjourned the matter until June 19, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application.

The judge also ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending the hearing and determination of the bail application.

According to the charge sheet, Surpruchi and others still at large allegedly conspired on April 5, 2026, to use a computer system and network to disseminate false and injurious information against Elumelu, an offence punishable under Section 27(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes Act.

The prosecution further alleged that the defendant knowingly transmitted through a social media account identified as “@PROBLElEMCHIMKYI”, allegedly registered in his name, a false and offensive message claiming that Elumelu had divorced his wife after a DNA test revealed that none of his seven children belonged to him.

The charge stated that the publication was intended to cause annoyance, inconvenience, insult, hatred, ill will, and criminal intimidation to Elumelu and his family, contrary to Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes Act.

In a separate count, the prosecution alleged that the publication, which was reportedly viewed by about 1.9 million people, reposted approximately 1,600 times, received around 6,300 likes, and was saved by about 601 users, was intended to bully, threaten, or harass Elumelu, thereby damaging his reputation and exposing him to public ridicule.

The final count accused the defendant of publishing defamatory material concerning Elumelu and his family on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, knowing the information to be false and likely to expose them to hatred, ridicule, and contempt.