Published by Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has demanded the immediate release of three individuals arrested by the Nigeria Police Force over a viral social media report alleging that United Bank for Africa Group Chairman Tony Elumelu had divorced his wife. In a post on his official Facebook page on Monday, the publisher of Sahara Reporters argued that publishing unverified claims about the marital status of a public figure does not constitute a criminal offence worthy of arrest or detention, insisting that such matters, even if defamatory, belong strictly to the realm of civil law and should not invite the heavy hand of state repression.
His intervention came just a day after UBA Group, through its Group Head of Brand, Marketing and Corporate Communication, Alero Ladipo, issued a formal notice dismissing the divorce claims as entirely fabricated, reckless and malicious. The bank confirmed that three individuals directly linked to the creation and dissemination of what it described as a defamatory campaign had been taken into custody. They were named as Kingsley Akunemeihe, who operates on social media as @Directorkem; Chigozie Success Ihebom; and John Surpruchi Nwanorue, popularly known as @problemchimky. UBA declared that investigations were ongoing and would likely lead to further arrests and prosecutions of all persons involved in originating, amplifying or sustaining the campaign.
Sowore did not mince words in his criticism of the police action. “We must continue to remind the Nigerian Police Force that it is not a criminal offense warranting arrest or detention for bloggers to report that Tony O. Elumelu, Chairman of UBA Group, has reportedly divorced his wife,” the activist wrote. He stressed that at worst, the publication of such content falls within the scope of civil law and in no way justifies police action or any form of state repression. “The PoliceNG must therefore immediately release Kingsley Akunemeihe (@Directorkem), Chigozie Success Ihebom, and John Surpruchi Nwanorue (@problemchimky),” he added, making clear that his objection was not a defence of the accuracy of the report but a defence of the principle that citizens should not be locked up for making statements that are at most actionable in a civil court.
The background to the controversy is a torrent of unsavoury social media content targeting the Elumelu family that had been circulating for weeks. It began with a viral audio post that allegedly cast doubt on the paternity of the couple’s children. While the public was still reeling from that absurdity, a new report surfaced claiming that Mr Elumelu had divorced his wife, Dr Awele Elumelu, a respected medical doctor and the Chairperson of Transcorp Hilton Abuja. The bank, evidently concluding that the campaign had crossed every red line, issued a blistering statement on Sunday, describing the publications as deliberate falsehoods designed to mislead the public and cause maximum reputational harm.
The UBA statement was unambiguous in its warning. It issued a formal cease and desist notice to all individuals, platforms and entities involved in the publication, reposting or continued dissemination of the content. They were directed to remove the offending publication from all platforms immediately, refrain from any further amplification of similar false content, and preserve all records, including digital footprints, communications and metadata, pending further legal action. The bank warned that failure to comply would result in the initiation of legal proceedings, including claims for defamation, injunctive relief, damages and any other remedies available under applicable law. “The UBA Group is resolute in protecting the reputation, privacy, and integrity of our brand, that of Mr Elumelu and will pursue all necessary legal avenues — civil and criminal — to ensure that all responsible parties are identified and held accountable,” the bank declared.
Sowore’s call for the release of the three suspects has ignited a fresh debate about the limits of free expression, the proper use of defamation laws, and the role of law enforcement in disputes involving online publications. While many Nigerians have condemned the spread of falsehoods targeting the Elumelus, a significant number have also expressed concern about the use of criminal arrest powers in a case that does not involve violence, theft or any threat to public order. Legal analysts point out that while Nigeria’s Criminal Code does contain provisions for criminal defamation, the trend in democratic societies has been toward decriminalizing such offences or reserving them for the most egregious cases where public mischief or incitement can be proven.
The three suspects remain in police custody as of Monday evening. UBA has not commented on Sowore’s demand, and the Nigeria Police Force has not issued any official statement explaining the specific charges on which the trio were arrested. However, the bank’s insistence that investigations are ongoing suggests that the legal battle may only just be beginning. For Sowore, who has himself been detained multiple times over his own critical comments about public officials and institutions, the case is a familiar one: a powerful individual using state machinery to crush speech that he finds inconvenient, regardless of whether that speech actually warrants criminal sanction.
Meanwhile, the controversy has also drawn in the Dangote Group, which was forced to dismiss another false publication claiming that Aliko Dangote had distanced himself from Tony Elumelu. In a separate statement, Anthony Chiejina, the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, described that report as entirely baseless, clarifying that there is no rift between the two business leaders, who maintain a longstanding and cordial relationship. The Dangote Group also raised alarm about a growing pattern of fabricated statements and the unauthorised use of Dangote’s name and image in misleading content, warning that such actions constitute fraud and would be met with legal action.
As the debate rages, the three bloggers remain behind bars, their fate now hanging on the outcome of police investigations and the willingness of the courts to draw a clear line between criminal defamation and the mere spread of falsehood that should be remedied through civil damages. Sowore, for his part, has vowed not to relent until they are released. “We must continue to remind the Nigerian Police Force,” he wrote, “that it is not a criminal offense.”
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments