The operatives of the Nigeria Police Force Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos, have arraigned a man, Emmanuel Chidera Akwuobi, before a Federal High Court, Lagos, over an alleged online publication capable of harming the reputation of the wife of Tony Elumelu, CFR, the former Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of United Bank of Africa (UBA) Plc.
The defendant was arraigned today before the court presided over by Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa on a count-charge.
The prosecutor, Ijie Eliott, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), informed the court that the defendant allegedly committed the offence on August 19, 2026, through his X handle (formerly Twitter).
The prosecutor told the court that the defendant flew to Kaduna, where he was tracked and arrested after the offence.
Specifically, the defendant allegedly used the pseudonyms “deriko” on his X handles named @@fimlex and @deriuku, with phone 08104142790 to make the maligning publications.
Parts of the alleged maligning publications read: “‘i hear say Chike don sleep with another person wife’. “Tony wife, over full gist”.
The defendant’s publication, according to the prosecutor containing elements calculated to harm the reputation of wife of Mr. Tony Elumelu, CFR. Adding that the act is contrary to Section 24 (2(c) Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015 (as amended, 2024) and punishable under Section 244(2)(c) of the same Act. said to contravene Section 24(2)(c)(ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.
Meanwhile, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the offence when the charge was read to him.
Following his not guilty plea, the prosecutor asked for a trial date, and also prayed the court to remand the defendant in the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS ( pending the determination of the charge.
In response to the prosecutor’s request, the defendant’s lawyer, G. I. Ilegbune, prayed the court for a short date to enable him file his client’s bail application.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa after listening to parties submissions, ordered that the defendants be remanded at the NCoS’ facility, and subsequently adjourned the matter to November 9, for trial.
Charge against the defendant reads: “that you Emmanuel Chidera Akwuobi ‘M’, on 19th August, 2026, on an online platform, monitored in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, did knowingly and intentionally transmit or caused the transmission of communication through computer system or network containing elements calculated to harm the reputation of wife of Mr. Tony Elumelu, CFR, thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 24 (2(c) Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015 (as amended, 2024) and punishable under Section 244(2)(c)(ii) of the same Act.”
