A video has surfaced online in which an individual claiming to be a family member of one of the suspects arrested over a viral social media post alleging that billionaire businessman Tony Elumelu had divorced his wife, Dr Awele Elumelu. The family member alleged that the suspect, 18-year-old social media……
A video has surfaced online in which an individual claiming to be a family member of one of the suspects arrested over a viral social media post alleging that billionaire businessman Tony Elumelu had divorced his wife, Dr Awele Elumelu.
The family member alleged that the suspect, 18-year-old social media user and UTME candidate, Kingsley Akunemeihe, was arrested on April 18 while returning from his JAMB examination.
The development was disclosed in a video statement by his sister, Ngozi Akunemeihe, which was shared online. In the video appeal posted on her Instagram handle, she said her brother has been detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department for more than a week.
“Mr Tony Elumelu got the police to arrest my 18-year-old younger brother, Kingsley Chinanu Akunemeihe. He was arrested on Saturday, April 18. He was coming back from his JAMB exam when he was arrested and never got home,” she claimed.
Ngozi stated that her brother did not originate the post but reshared it from another account on X.
She added that he deleted the post and issued an apology after other users flagged it as false and defamatory.
“He said he got it from another person’s handle and shared it with others. After sharing it, people called his attention to the fact that the post is fake and defamatory,” she said.
She further explained that the teenager later realised the post was false and took responsibility by deleting it and issuing an apology on his platform.
“He acknowledged he did something wrong and apologised for it. His apology posts are still there on his handle,” she said.
The sister alleged that despite the apology, Kingsley was arrested about 10 days later, urging Elumelu to consider his age and remorse.
“He has been detained for over a week now. I am begging you, sir, please forgive him. He is just 18. I know people may say he is an adult, but he is still a teenager who acted out of ignorance,” she said.
“He realised that what he did was not okay, and he has apologised. I am begging you to withdraw the complaint so that he can come back home,” she added.
TVC News earlier reported that the United Bank for Africa (UBA) has dismissed as false and malicious a viral social media claim alleging that its Group Chairman, Tony O. Elumelu, has divorced his wife.
In a formal notice issued in Lagos and signed by Alero Ladipo, Group Head, Brand, Marketing and Corporate Communications, the bank described the reports as “entirely fabricated, reckless, and without basis,” adding that the publication was deliberately designed to mislead the public and damage the reputation of the prominent businessman.
UBA said it had referred the matter to law enforcement authorities, who have commenced action.
According to the statement, three individuals allegedly linked to the creation and spread of the claims have been arrested.
In its statement, United Bank for Africa said, “The attention of UBA Group has been drawn to a false, defamatory, and malicious publication currently circulating on social media platforms, falsely alleging that the Group Chairman, Mr Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, has divorced his wife. We confirm that three individuals directly connected to the creation and dissemination of these malicious falsehoods have been arrested,” it said.
