The family of 18-year-old UTME candidate, Kingsley Chinanu Akunemeihe, has appealed to businessman Tony Elumelu to withdraw a complaint that led to the teenager’s arrest over a viral social media post.
Kingsley was reportedly arrested on April 18 while returning from his examination organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). His sister, Ngozi Akunemeihe, disclosed the incident in a video circulating online, stating that he has since been held at the State Criminal Investigation Department for over a week.
According to her, the teenager did not create the controversial post but reshared it from another account on X (formerly Twitter). She said he later deleted the content and issued a public apology after being alerted that the claim—alleging a divorce involving Elumelu—was false and defamatory.
Ngozi maintained that her brother acknowledged his mistake and took responsibility, but was arrested about 10 days after the post was removed. She appealed for leniency, stressing his age and remorse.
She urged Elumelu to reconsider the complaint, noting that the situation involved a teenager who acted out of ignorance and had already apologised.
The United Bank for Africa (UBA), where Elumelu serves as chairman, had earlier described the viral claim as “false, defamatory, and malicious.” The bank confirmed that security agencies were informed and that arrests were made in connection with the spread of the allegation.
The incident has triggered widespread reactions online, with debates focusing on defamation, freedom of expression, and the role of law enforcement in handling social media-related disputes.
Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has also weighed in, calling on the Nigeria Police Force to release those detained, arguing that the matter should be treated as a civil issue rather than a criminal case.
