A 19-year-old blogger, Nurenorue John Surpruchi, was arraigned on Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly defaming United Bank for Africa (UBA) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Tony Elumelu, through cyberstalking.
Surpruchi appeared before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Alagoa on a four-count charge bordering on cyberstalking, bullying, and defamation instituted by the Directorate of Legal Services, Force CID Alagbon, Lagos.
According to the charge sheet, Surpruchi and others still at large allegedly conspired on or about April 5, 2026, to use a computer system and network to spread false and injurious information about Elumelu.
The prosecution alleged that Surpruchi, via X (formerly Twitter) handle @PROBLElEMCHIMKYI registered to his name and phone number 07049845280, posted that Mr. Elumelu had divorced his wife following a DNA discovery that none of his seven children belong to him.
The post reportedly reached 1.9 million views, with 1,600 reposts, 6,300 likes, and 601 saves.
The prosecution further stated that the message was knowingly false, grossly offensive, and intended to cause annoyance, hatred, and criminal intimidation against Elumelu and his family.
During the arraignment, prosecution counsel A. G. Obi asked that the charges be read.
Surpruchi pleaded not guilty to all four counts.
Obi told the court the prosecution was ready to proceed but requested time to respond to a bail motion filed by the defence that morning, and applied for Surpruchi to be remanded in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Centre pending the bail hearing.
Defence counsel A. Edoh confirmed receipt of the prosecution’s position and requested a short adjournment.
Justice Lewis-Alagoa adjourned the matter to June 19, 2026, for hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in custody until then.
Surpruchi is facing charges under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended) and the Criminal Code Act.