A 19-year-old blogger, Nurenorue Surpruchi, has been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged cyberstalking and defamatory posts targeting Tony Elumelu.
The defendant was brought before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, cyberstalking, bullying and defamation. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
According to the prosecution, Surpruchi and others still at large allegedly used social media on April 5, 2026, to spread false and damaging claims about Elumelu, who chairs ubagroup.com.
The prosecution alleged that the accused used an X account identified as “@PROBLElEMCHIMKYI” to publish claims that Elumelu divorced his wife after DNA tests allegedly showed that none of his seven children belonged to him.
Police prosecutors told the court that the publication reportedly generated about 1.9 million views, over 1,600 reposts, 6,300 likes and hundreds of saves, adding that the post was intended to harass and damage the reputation of the businessman.
Following the defendant’s plea, the prosecution asked the court to remand him pending the hearing of his bail application, noting that it had only recently been served with the application and needed time to respond.
Defence counsel, A. Edoh, appealed for a short adjournment to allow the bail request to be heard.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa subsequently adjourned the matter until June 19, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in correctional custody.
The prosecution said the alleged offences contravene provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended, as well as sections of Nigeria’s Criminal Code relating to defamation.
