By Paul Joseph
The United Bank for Africa (UBA) has dismissed as false a viral report claiming its Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, divorced his wife, describing the story as fabricated, misleading, and malicious.
In a strongly worded statement, the bank said the report widely circulated across social media was falsely attributed to The Guardian, which it clarified did not publish any such story.
UBA accused those behind the claim of orchestrating a deliberate attempt to damage the reputation and personal life of its chairman.
UBA confirmed that the matter has been escalated to law enforcement authorities, triggering an investigation into the origin and spread of the false publication.
According to the bank, three individuals have already been arrested in connection with the case:
Kingsley Akunemeihe (also known as @Directorkem)
Chigozie Success Ihebom
John Surpruchi Nwanorue (also known as @problemchimky)
The bank added that investigations are ongoing, with the possibility of more arrests as authorities widen their probe into what it described as a coordinated network behind the defamatory content.
UBA issued a stern directive to bloggers, social media users, and digital platforms involved in sharing the report, ordering the immediate removal of the false content.
It also instructed those involved to preserve all related materials including digital communications and metadata in anticipation of possible legal proceedings.
The financial institution warned that failure to comply could lead to serious legal consequences, including lawsuits for defamation, damages, and other remedies under applicable laws.
Reaffirming its position, UBA stressed its commitment to safeguarding the reputation, privacy, and integrity of both its brand and its chairman.
The bank vowed to pursue all legal avenues to ensure that those responsible for the spread of the false report are identified and held accountable, signaling a zero-tolerance stance on misinformation targeting its leadership.
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