The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group has dismissed as false and malicious a viral social media report alleging that its Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, has divorced his wife. In a formal notice issued by the bank, UBA described the claims as “entirely fabricated, reckless, and without basis,” accusing those behind the публикаtion of deliberately spreading falsehoods to mislead the public and damage reputations. The bank disclosed that the matter has been escalated to law enforcement agencies, leading to the arrest of three individuals allegedly linked to the creation and dissemination of the report. Those arrested were identified as Kingsley Akunemeihe, Chigozie Success Ihebom, and John Surpruchi Nwanorue. According to the statement, investigations are ongoing and may result in further arrests and prosecutions of others involved in originating or amplifying the claims. UBA also issued a stern warning to individuals and platforms circulating the content, directing them to immediately remove the публикаtion, desist from further dissemination, and preserve all related digital records pending legal action. The bank warned that failure to comply would attract legal consequences, including defamation suits, claims for damages, and other remedies under the law. UBA reaffirmed its commitment to protecting its corporate reputation as well as the privacy and integrity of its chairman, stressing that it would pursue all available civil and criminal actions against those responsible. The statement was signed by Alero Ladipo, Group Head of Brand, Marketing and Corporate Communication, at the bank’s Lagos office.
