The family of an 18-year-old social media user and UTME candidate, Kingsley Akunemeihe, has appealed to billionaire businessman, Tony Elumelu, to forgive him following his arrest over a viral post alleging that the banker had divorced his wife.

In a video appeal shared on Sunday on her Instagram handle, the suspect’s sister, Ngozi Akunemeihe, said the teenager was picked up after sharing a post on X (formerly Twitter) that claimed Elumelu had divorced his wife, Awele.

According to her, the young man was arrested while returning home after sitting for his JAMB examination and has since remained in detention.

“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,” she said.

Ngozi explained that the post in question was not originally created by her brother, but was copied from another user’s page and reshared.

“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,” she said.

She added that the teenager later realised the post was false and took responsibility by deleting it and issuing an apology on his platform.

“He acknowledged he did something wrong and apologised for it. His apology posts are still there on his handle,” she said.

Despite the apology, she said the young man was arrested about ten days later and has remained in custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department.

“He has been detained for over a week now,” she said.

In her emotional appeal, Ngozi urged Elumelu to consider the age of the suspect and forgive him, stressing that he had shown remorse.

“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,” she said.

She further pleaded for his release, saying the experience had already served as a lesson.

“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,” she added.

The case is part of a wider controversy involving arrests linked to the circulation of a false divorce claim involving Elumelu and his wife.

The United Bank for Africa, where Elumelu serves as Chairman, had earlier dismissed the claim as false and malicious. The bank insisted the publication was designed to mislead the public and damage reputations.

In its statement, United Bank for Africa said, “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, CFR, has divorced his wife.”

UBA also confirmed that security agencies had been notified and arrests had been made in connection with the matter.

“We confirm that three individuals directly connected to the creation and dissemination of these malicious falsehoods have been arrested,” it said.

The development has triggered wider debate on social media about free expression, defamation laws, and the role of law enforcement in online disputes.

Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has also called on the Nigeria Police Force to release the arrested individuals, arguing that the matter should not attract criminal charges but be treated within civil law. (PUNCH)