The family of 19-year-old Emmanuel Chidera Akwuobi, popularly known as Deriko, has appealed to businessman Tony Elumelu to forgive him after he was convicted in a defamation case involving Elumelu’s wife, Dr Awele Elumelu.
Akwuobi was accused of making defamatory comments about Dr Awele Elumelu on X (formerly Twitter) on August 19, 2026.
According to the police charge, he allegedly responded to a post discussing Nigerian singer Chike with the comments:
“I hear say Chike don sleep with another person wife.”
“Tony wife, over full gist.”
The comments formed the basis of the defamation case against him, as the police alleged that his statements were capable of damaging Dr Awele Elumelu’s reputation.
He was reportedly arrested in Kaduna on September 18, 2026, before being arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos on September 24, 2026.
Following the court proceedings, Akwuobi was granted bail in the sum of ₦50 million. However, the judge ordered that he remain in prison until he fulfils all the bail conditions.
His family says they cannot afford the amount and has appealed to Tony Elumelu to reconsider the situation.
In a post, Emmanuel Akwuobi’s elder brother, Michael, said:
“Honestly, I do not know where to begin. As a family, we have been going through an extremely difficult time, doing everything within our power to secure his release.
We have made sacrifices, borrowed money and exhausted so many resources in the hope of bringing him home. But today, we have been confronted with a N50 million bail condition, an amount that is completely beyond our family’s financial capacity.
“Sir, if my brother has offended you and there is no room for forgiveness or reconsideration, please, we humbly appeal that he be allowed to serve whatever lawful sentence the court deems appropriate rather than leaving our family helpless before a N50 million bail condition that we simply cannot afford.
“We are not asking for anyone to disregard the law. We are only pleading for compassion and a way forward. We cannot afford N50 million. We are an ordinary family, and this situation has taken an enormous toll on us emotionally, financially and otherwise.”
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