SISTER of 18-year-old social media user, Kingsley Akunemeihe, has pleaded with billionaire businessman, Tony Elumelu, to forgive her brother, who was recently arrested over a viral social media post alleging that the entrepreneur had divorced his wife, Awele.
In an video posted on Instagram, Ngozi Akunemeihe said Kingsley reposted a claim on X, alleging that Elumelu had separated from his wife, Awele, without knowing the information was false.
He was subsequently arrested shortly after writing his JAMB examination.
According to her: “Mr. Tony Elumelu got the Police to arrest my 18-year-old younger brother, Kingsley Chinanu Akunemeihe. He was arrested on Saturday, 18 April.
“He was coming back from his JAMB exam when he was arrested and never got home.”
Ngozi explained that Kingsley later realised the post was false after other users called his attention to it and immediately apologised online, adding: “He said he got it from another person’s handle and shared it with others.
“After sharing it, people called his attention that the post is fake and defamatory. He acknowledged he did something wrong and apologised for it.
“His apology posts are still there on his handle. He has now been detained for ten days now.”
She appealled to Elumelu to show compassion and withdraw the complaint against the teenager, noting: “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.
“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.”
The United Bank for Africa Plc, reacting on behalf of its Group Chairman, had dismissed the rumour as malicious and defamatory, saying: “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, has divorced his wife.
“We confirm that three individuals directly connected to the creation and dissemination of these malicious falsehoods have been arrested.”
Some tweeps, reacting to his sister’s appeal, had dug up old tweets from Kingsley and accused him of being a notorious purveyor of false information.
One such revealed that he, with the username @Lopperkem, once alleged that popular musician, Kizz Daniel, had lost his twin boys and had to go offline for months.
Another tweet showed that the alleged popular singer Skales was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for obtaining money under false pretence.
Yet another tweet indicated that he alleged previously had alleged that EFFC had placed a bounty on skitmaker, Sabinus, on grounds of cases related to fraud.
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