Blogger remanded over alleged defamatory posts against Tony Elumelu

A Federal High Court in Lagos has remanded a 19-year-old blogger, Nwanorue John Surpruchi, over allegations of publishing false and defamatory content about Tony Elumelu.

Surpruchi was arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on cyberstalking and criminal intimidation.

According to the police, the defendant allegedly used his X account, @PROBLElEMCHIMKYI, to publish claims that Elumelu had divorced his wife after allegedly discovering through DNA tests that none of his seven children were biologically his.

The charge sheet alleges that Surpruchi and others still at large conspired to use a computer system and network to disseminate false and injurious information against the businessman, an offence punishable under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended).

The police further accused him of knowingly transmitting information he allegedly knew to be false, offensive, and capable of causing annoyance, hatred, ill will, and criminal intimidation against Elumelu and his family.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read in court.

A.G. Obi, the police prosecutor from the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon, informed the court that she had only received the defendant’s bail application on Friday morning and required time to study the application and file a response.

She subsequently asked the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending the hearing of the bail application and requested a date for the commencement of trial.

Counsel to the defendant, Anslem Etoh, urged the court to grant a short adjournment to allow the bail application to be heard.

Following submissions from both parties, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa ordered that the defendant be remanded and adjourned the matter until June 19, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application.