A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the remand of a blogger, Nwanorue John Surpruchi, over allegations of cyberstalking and defamatory publications targeting billionaire businessman and Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Tony Elumelu.
Surpruchi was arraigned before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa by the Inspector-General of Police through the Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID) Annex, Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos, on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, cyberstalking, dissemination of false information, and defamation.
According to the charge marked FHC/L/316C/2026, the defendant allegedly used an X (formerly Twitter) account identified as @PROBLEMCHLMKYI to publish and circulate false claims concerning Elumelu and members of his family.
The prosecution, led by A.G. Obi, told the court that the defendant and other persons still at large allegedly posted claims that Elumelu had divorced his wife following DNA tests purportedly showing that none of his seven children were biologically his.
The prosecution further alleged that the publication, made on or about April 5, 2026, was widely disseminated across social media platforms, attracting approximately 1.9 million views, over 1,600 reposts, more than 6,300 likes, and hundreds of saves.
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According to the prosecution, the publication exposed Elumelu and his family to public ridicule, hatred, intimidation, ill-will, and significant reputational damage.
The alleged offences are said to contravene 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.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges when they were read before the court.
Following the plea, the prosecution informed the court that it had only recently been served with the defence’s bail application and requested time to file a response. The prosecution also urged the court to remand the defendant pending further proceedings.
Defence counsel, Anslem Etoh, informed the court that his client’s bail application was still being processed and requested a short adjournment.
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 the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending the determination of the application.
The case is expected to test the application of Nigeria’s cybercrime laws in relation to online publications and allegations of reputational harm on social media platforms.
