A 19-year-old blogger, Nurenorue Surpruchi, was on Friday brought before the Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged defamatory and cyberstalking posts targeting United Bank for Africa Chairman, Tony Elumelu.
Surpruchi appeared before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa on a four-count charge involving alleged conspiracy, cyberstalking, bullying and defamation.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges after they were read in court.
According to the prosecution, Surpruchi and some accomplices still at large allegedly used digital platforms on April 5, 2026, to circulate false and damaging claims about Elumelu.
Prosecuting counsel, A.G. Obi, told the court that the prosecution had just received the defendant’s bail application and needed time to review and respond to it. She subsequently asked the court to remand the defendant pending the hearing of the application.
Defence lawyer, A. Edoh, acknowledged that the bail request had only recently been served and requested a brief adjournment for its hearing.
Following submissions from both parties, Justice Lewis-Allagoa adjourned the case until June 19, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendant remain in Correctional Service custody.
One of the charges alleged that Surpruchi operated an X account identified as “@PROBLElEMCHIMKYI,” which was allegedly used to spread false claims that Elumelu had separated from his wife after DNA tests reportedly showed that none of his seven children belonged to him.
The prosecution further claimed the post attracted nearly 1.9 million views, over 1,600 reposts, 6,300 likes and hundreds of saves, adding that it was intended to bully, harass and damage the reputation of the UBA chairman.
According to the prosecution, the alleged offences violate provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended), alongside sections of the Criminal Code Act.
