Court Remands Blogger, Nurenorue Surpruchi, In Prison Over Alleged Defaming UBA C.E.O, Tony Elumelu

By allcitynews.ng

The Federal High Court, Lagos division, Friday, ordered remand of a 19-year-old blogger, Nurenorue John Surpruchi, in the Nigeria Correctional Centre, Lagos till June 19, 2026, over alleged defamation of the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, C.E.O, of United Bank for Africa, (UBA) Mr Tony Elumelu.

The trial judge, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Alagoa gave the remand order after arraignment of Nurenorue John Surpruchi on a four-count charge bothering on cyberstalking, bulling and defaming the UBA Chief Executive Officer.

He pleaded not guilty to each of the count charge.

According to the charge, Nurenorue John Surpruchi and others now at large, allegedly, on or about the 5th day  of April,  2026, conspired amongst themselves to commit felony to with Cyberstalking by agreeing to use a computer system and network to disseminate false and injurious information against the Executive Officer (CEO) of United Bank for Africa one Mr. Tony Elumelu.

When the matter came up on Friday, for arraignment, the prosecutor A.G. Obi from the Directorate of Legal Services, Force CID, Alagbon Lagos, informed the court that the prosecution has four counts charge pending before the court and urged the court to order that the charge be read so that the defendant can take his plea.

Consequently the charge was read and the defendant pleaded not guilty to same.

Following the not guilty plea of the defendant, Obi informed the court of the prosecution readiness to proceed with the matter, she however said that she had just received a motion for bail  early in the morning and would need time to study  the motion and file appropriate response.

The prosecutor said that in the circumstance, she would be asking for  the remand of the defendant in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of the bail application.

She further asked for a trial date.

In his own submission the defendant counsel, A. Edoh confirmed the position of Obi, but pleaded for a short adjournment for the hearing of the bail application.

The defence lawyer however pleaded with the judge to remand the defendeant in police custody because of his health issue.

After listening to both parties, Justice Alagoa adjourned the matter till June 19, 2026 for hearing of the bail application.

The judge further remanded the defendant in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Centre.

The charge against the defendant reads:

That you, Nurenorue John Surpruchi and others now at large on or about the 5th day  of April,  2026, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to with Cyberstalking by agreeing to use a computer system and network to disseminate false and injurious information against the Executive Officer (CEO) of United Bank for Africa one Mr. Tony Elumelu and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 27(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended).

COUNT 2

That you, Nwanorue John Surpruchi, and others now at large, on or about the 5th day of April, 2026, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, knowingly and intentionally sent and caused to be sent through a computer system via a Twitter (x) known as @ PROBLElEMCHIMKYI ( registered with your name) John Surpruchi  Nwanorueand, phone number 07049845280)  a message which you knew to be false and grossly offensive and menacing character to wit: that the Chief Executive Officer, CEO of UBA Mr Tony Elumelu had divorced his wife following a DNA discovery that none of his seven children belong to him, with intent to causing annoyance, inconvenience, insult, hatred and ill will, and  criminal intimidation to him and his family.  You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24 (1)(b) of the Cyberorimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended).

COUNT 3

That you, Nwanorue John Surpruchl, and others now at large, on or about the 5th day of April, 2026, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did knowingly send and Cause to be sent through a COMPUTER SYSTEM and network, (registered with your name: John Surpruchi Nwanorue and phone number 07049845280), to wit: that Mr. Tony Elumelu had divorced his wife following a DNA discovery that none of his seven children belong to him, which information you knew to be false, and which was widely disseminated to the public, having been viewed by approximately 1.9 million persons, reposted about 1,600 times, received about 6,300 likes and saved by about 601 users, with intent to bully, threaten or harass the person of Tony Elumelu, thereby causing injury to his reputation and exposing him to public ridicule. You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24(2)(a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended).

COUNT 4

That you, Nwanorue John Surpruchi, and others now at large, on or about the 5th day of April, 2026, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did publish a defamatory matter concerning Mr. Tony Elumelu and his family via a Twitter  platform, which publication you knew to be false and which exposed him to hatred, ridicule and contempt in the eyes of right-thinking members of the society, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 373 and punishable under Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act CAP C38, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

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