The family of 19-year-old Deriko has turned to social media to seek mercy from businessman Tony Elumelu after the teenager spent eight days in custody over an X comment.
Deriko’s older brother has been managing the teenager’s X account since his detention on September 18 and has used it to make public appeals to Elumelu on his behalf.
The latest appeal was described as “Day 2 of Deriko’s heartfelt apology to Mr. Tony Elumelu”.
The brother said Deriko remained in custody following what he described as an “unfortunate comment” made on X.
The issue began after an X user, @fimlex2, posted: “I de hear rumor say Chike don sleep with another person wife again 😭😭😭.”
Deriko replied: “Tony elumelu wife I get the full gist.”
In one of the posts, the brother said the comment was not intended to tarnish Elumelu’s image.
“Please I want the general public to know that I didn’t mean to tarnish a very high profiled man’s image,” he wrote.
He said he took responsibility for the action and regretted any inconvenience and misinterpretation it might have caused.
The brother also directly apologised to Elumelu and pleaded for forgiveness.
“Mr Tony Elumelu, sir I am deeply sorry,” he wrote.
“I know that there’s no amount of plea that can erase my grievous crime against you. Please have mercy on me and forgive my poor ignorance. I am so sorry sir.”
Deriko’s family, who live in Kaduna, have continued to plead with Elumelu while the teenager remains in custody.
The brother said the case had already come before the court and was adjourned to November 9.
He also said the family was particularly concerned because Deriko is scheduled to begin his final-year examinations on Monday, September 28.
“What makes this even more painful for our family is that Deriko is scheduled to begin his final-year examinations on Monday, 28 September,” he wrote.
The family appealed to Elumelu and everyone touched by the situation to consider Deriko’s age and the remorse expressed on his behalf.
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“We humbly appeal to Mr. Tony Elumelu and everyone touched by this situation to please consider Deriko’s sincere remorse and youthful age and extend mercy and forgiveness to him,” the family said.
The brother stressed that the family was sorry and asked members of the public to help amplify the appeal.
“Deriko is deeply sorry. Please we are sorry, His family is deeply sorry,” he wrote.
He also asked X users to tag Elumelu and help the family reach him.
“Kindly help us and tag the Mr Tony Elumelu 🙏 We plead for mercy sir 🙏🙏🙏,” he added.
The family’s appeal has since drawn a growing response on X, with users joining efforts to reach Elumelu.
Milly appealed to Elumelu to forgive Deriko, saying he was deeply sorry and had learned from his mistake.
“This is becoming more serious,” another user, MS, wrote while appealing to Elumelu to “temper justice with mercy”.
BIGMINDSET also appealed to Elumelu, asking him as an elderly man and father to show mercy.
Baragan asked Elumelu to forgive Deriko, describing him as a young boy.
Another user, Uncle Mark, wrote: “We are very sorry sir.”
Other X users have continued tagging Elumelu as they put their heads together to find ways of getting the family’s appeal to him.
The online response has focused on Deriko’s age, his continued detention, his upcoming examinations and the apology being made by his older brother.
With Deriko’s final-year examinations scheduled to begin on September 28 and his next court date set for November 9.
Meanwhile, Deriko’s followers on X are hosting Spaces and putting their heads together to find ways to reach Mr Tony Elumelu directly and appeal for the teenager’s release, as the campaign for mercy continues on the platform.
Crediblenewsng.com
