LAGOS, Nigeria — The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the remand of a 19-year-old blogger, Nurenorue John Surpruchi, in correctional custody over allegations of cyberstalking and defaming the Group Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Mr. Tony Elumelu.
Surpruchi was arraigned on Friday, May 29, before presiding Judge, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Alagoa, on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, cyberstalking, intentional bullying, and criminal defamation.
Okay News reports that the defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges brought against him by the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) of the Nigeria Police.
According to the prosecution, Surpruchi used his X (formerly Twitter) account on April 5 to falsely broadcast that the billionaire businessman had divorced his wife following a fraudulent DNA discovery regarding their seven children. The police stated that the malicious post was viewed by nearly two million users, causing widespread public ridicule and severe emotional injury to the Elumelu family.
Following the defendant’s plea, the prosecution counsel, Barrister A.G. Obi, requested that the blogger be remanded in prison pending trial, noting she required additional time to review and reply to a bail application served by the defense early Friday morning. Justice Lewis-Alagoa subsequently adjourned the case to June 19 for a hearing on the bail application and ordered the teenager to remain in custody.
