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Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has criticised the Nigeria Police Force for arresting three individuals over a viral report claiming that businessman Tony Elumelu had divorced his wife. Sowore described the arrests as unjustified, arguing that publishing such claims—even if false—should not be treated as a criminal offence. 
According to him, issues related to alleged defamation are civil matters, not grounds for detention or criminal prosecution. He insisted that law enforcement agencies must avoid overreach and respect freedom of expression, warning that using police powers in such cases could set a dangerous precedent for journalists and content creators. 
The controversy follows a statement by United Bank for Africa, which dismissed the divorce claims as false and malicious, confirming that security agencies were contacted and arrests were made. 
Sowore has since called for the immediate release of the detained individuals, maintaining that criminalising online publications—especially those involving public figures—could undermine press freedom and discourage open public discourse in Nigeria. 
