Three Reportedly Arrested Over False Divorce Rumour About Tony Elumelu

Three individuals, Kingsley Akunemeihe (@Directorkem), Chigozie Success Ihebom, and John Surpruchi Nwanorue (@problemchimky), have been arrested by law enforcement authorities over their alleged involvement in the circulation of false claims about the personal life of Tony Elumelu, chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc.

The arrests follow the spread of social media reports alleging that Elumelu had divorced his wife, claims which the bank has strongly denied.

According to Punch, UBA described the reports as entirely false, malicious, and defamatory, stressing that they were deliberately fabricated to mislead the public and tarnish the reputation of its group chairman.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the bank’s Group Head of Brand, Marketing and Corporate Communication, Alero Ladipo, said investigations were ongoing and would likely lead to more arrests and prosecutions of individuals connected to the creation and spread of the content.

The statement warned those involved in publishing or sharing the claims to immediately cease and desist, remove the content from all platforms, and preserve all related digital records, including communications and metadata, pending further legal action.

UBA further cautioned that failure to comply would result in legal proceedings, including claims for defamation, injunctive relief, and damages.

Reaffirming its stance, the bank stated that it remains committed to protecting its brand, as well as the privacy and integrity of Tony Elumelu, adding that it would pursue all necessary civil and criminal actions to ensure that those responsible are identified and held accountable.