A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the remand of a 19-year-old blogger, Nwanorue John Surpruchi, over allegations of publishing false and defamatory statements about businessman and banker Tony Elumelu.
Surpruchi was arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on cyberstalking and criminal intimidation. The charges stem from a social media post allegedly published through his X account, in which he claimed that Elumelu had divorced his wife after discovering through a DNA test that none of his seven children were biologically his.
According to the prosecution, the defendant knowingly used a computer network to circulate false information intended to damage Elumelu’s reputation and cause emotional distress to him and his family. The police further alleged that the publication violated provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended.
The blogger pleaded not guilty to all charges when they were read before the court.
During proceedings, the prosecution informed the court that it had only recently received the defendant’s bail application and required additional time to study and respond to it. The prosecution subsequently requested that the defendant be remanded pending the hearing of the application.
Counsel to the defendant appealed for a short adjournment to allow the court consider the bail request.
After hearing both parties, the trial judge, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, ordered that the defendant be remanded in custody and adjourned the matter until June 19, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application.
The case is expected to proceed after the court determines whether the defendant will be granted bail while awaiting trial.
