The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group has launched an aggressive legal and security offensive against individuals behind what it described as a coordinated and malicious social media campaign falsely claiming that its Group Chairman, Mr. Tony Elumelu, had divorced his wife, Dr. Awele Elumelu.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Sunday, the banking giant dismissed the reports as entirely fabricated, reckless, and deliberately designed to tarnish the reputation of one of Africa’s most prominent business leaders and his family.
UBA described the viral claims as “a deliberate falsehood designed to mislead the public and cause reputational harm,” stressing that the allegations have no basis in fact.
The bank’s Group Head of Brand, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Mrs. Alero Ladipo, said the institution had swiftly escalated the matter to law enforcement agencies, resulting in immediate action against key perpetrators.
According to the statement, authorities have already arrested three individuals directly connected to the creation and dissemination of the defamatory content, identified as Kingsley Akunemeihe (@Directorkem), Chigozie Success Ihebom, and John Surpruchi Nwanorue (@problemchimky).
UBA made it clear that this is only the beginning of a wider crackdown, revealing that ongoing investigations are expected to expose and prosecute all individuals, platforms, and networks involved in originating, amplifying, or sustaining the false narrative.
“Investigations are ongoing and are expected to lead to further arrests and prosecutions of all persons involved in originating, amplifying, or sustaining this defamatory campaign,” the statement noted.
In what observers see as one of the strongest corporate responses yet to online defamation in Nigeria, UBA also issued a stern legal warning to bloggers, social media users, digital publishers, and platforms still circulating the false claims.
The bank warned that failure to immediately cease dissemination of the fabricated reports would trigger full-scale legal proceedings, including defamation suits, injunctive actions, financial damages, and every remedy available under the law.
“Failure to comply will result in the initiation of legal proceedings, including claims for defamation, injunctive relief, damages, and any other remedies available under applicable law,” Ladipo stated.
UBA emphasized that it remains unwavering in defending the integrity of its chairman, his family, and the institution’s global reputation, adding that no effort will be spared in identifying every actor behind the smear campaign.
The bank further directed all involved parties to immediately remove the false publications, halt further reposts, and preserve all digital records, metadata, communications, and related materials for legal scrutiny.
The development signals a major warning shot to purveyors of misinformation and online character assassination, as corporate institutions increasingly move from silence to decisive legal retaliation against fake news and reputational attacks.
For UBA, this latest move underscores its zero-tolerance stance on malicious disinformation and its determination to ensure that those weaponizing social media for defamation face the full weight of the law.
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