The office of the Inspector General of Police has arraigned two social media users before an Abuja division of the Federal High Court, for allegedly spreading false and defamatory claims and information about a Nigerian businessman and Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu and his family on social media.
The two defendants, Ihebom Chigozie Success, a 17-year-old from Umuayalu Egbu in Owerri, Imo State, and Ayo Teddy Gabriel of Benin City, Edo State, were arraigned today, before the court presided over by Justice Mohammed Umar.
The dou were arraigned in separate charges marked FHC/ABJ/CR/249/2026 and FHC/ABJ/CR/275/2026 respectively.
In the charge, the prosecutors, Anthony Egwu, Kufreabasi Ebong and Amimu Abubakar, alleged that Ihebom published a post on his Facebook page in April 2026 claiming that Elumelu had divorced his wife after DNA tests allegedly revealed that his seven children were not biologically his.
The prosecutors also alleged that the statement was false and was intended to threaten, harass, and damage the reputation of Elumelu and his family.
The four-count charge accuses the teenager of offences under Sections 24(1)(b), 24(2)(a), and 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024. He is also charged under Sections 373 and 375 of the Criminal Code Act for alleged defamation.
The prosecutors also alleged that the second defendant, Gabriel used his TikTok handle, “teddygabrielso1,” to publish a similar claim stating that Elumelu’s seven children were not his.
The prosecutors contended that the post was knowingly false and was intended to bully, threaten, harass, and expose the businessman and his family to public ridicule.
Gabriel equally faces four counts similar to those preferred against Ihebom, including charges relating to cyberstalking, online harassment, reputational harm, and criminal defamation.
The prosecutors maintained that the publications violated provisions of the Cybercrimes Act and the Criminal Code by allegedly transmitting false information capable of causing fear, damaging reputations, and exposing the affected persons to hatred and contempt.
Meanwhile, defendants have been remanded pending when their bail application would be heard and determined.
Count one and four against each of the Defendants read: “That you, Ihebom Chigozie Success, ‘m’, 17 years old of Umuayalu Egbu, Owerri, Imo State, sometime in April 2026, in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Hon. Court made a post on your facebook page, cosi media that “Nigeria business mogul and UBA CEO, Tony Elumelu has reportedly divorced his wife after a DNA test shows his 7 children doesn’t belong to him” knowing same to be false, for the purpose of posing threat to life of Tony Elumelu and his family and you thereby committed offence contrary to Section 24 (1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015 (as amended) 2024.
That you, Ihebom Chigozie Success, ‘m’, 17 years old of Umuayalu Egbu, Owerri, Imo State, sometime in April 2026, in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Hon. Court made a post on your facebook page, cosi media that “ Nigeria business mogul and UBA CEO, Tony Elumelu has reportedly divorced his wife after a DNA test shows his 7 children doesn’t belong to him,” which Post you made with the intention of exposing Tony Elumelu and his family to hatred, contempt, ridicule, and you thereby committed offence contrary to Ssection 373 and punishable under Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act.”
“That you Ayo Teddy Gabriel, ‘m’, adult of No. 6 Guobadia Street, Ugbowo, Benin City, Edo State, sometimes in April 2026, in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Hon. Court made a post on your Tiktok handle: teddygabrielso1 that “ Tony Elumelu 7 children are not his” knowing same to be false, for the purpose of posing threat to life of Tony Elumelu and his family and you thereby committed offence contrary to Section 24 (1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015 (as amended) 2024.
“That vou Ayo Teddy Gabriel, “m’, adult of No. 6 Guobadia Street, Ugbowo, benin City, Edo State, sometimes in April 2026, in Nigeria within the jurisdiction vi this Hon. Court made a post on your Tiktok handle: teddygabriel5o1 that “tony Elumelu 7 children are not his” which Post you made with the intention of exposing Tony Elumelu and his family to hatred, contempt, ridicule, and thereby committed offence contrary to section 373 and punishable under section 375 the Criminal Code Act.”
It would be recall that the police had previously arraigned a blogger, Nurenorue John Surpruchi, before a Federal High Court, Lagos,
over alleged cyberstalking and defamatory posts against the Chairman of United Bank for Africa, Tony Elumelu.
To be precise, the 19 year-old blogger was arraigned on May 29, 2026, before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa’s court on a fourth count-charge of conspiracy, conspiracy, cyberstalking, bullying and defamation.
The court had remanded the blogger while fixed June 19, for hearing and determination of his bail application.
