Man Remanded for Defaming Tony Elumelu's Wife Online

Emmanuel Akwuobi has been remanded in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre by Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Lagos over an alleged defamatory online publication concerning Dr Awele Elumelu, the wife of Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings. Akwuobi was arraigned on a one-count charge by the Nigeria Police Force, Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos.

The police prosecutor, Chief Superintendent of Police Ijie Eliott, claimed that Akwuobi knowingly transmitted the defamatory publication on August 19, 2026, using the pseudonym “deriko” on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The prosecution alleged that the content of the posts was intended to harm Dr Elumelu's reputation.

Akwuobi pleaded not guilty to the charge, and the judge ordered his remand while setting a trial date for November 9, 2026. The case falls under Section 24(2)(c)(ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, as amended in 2024.