Court summons five for alleged defamation of Mercy Chinwo, husband as Nathaniel Bassey petitions IGP
Mercy Chinwo’s husband, Blessed Uzochikwa has filed a direct complaint against five social media peddlers for ‘criminal defamation’ through his lawyers led by Pelumi Olajengbesi of Abuja-based media firm, Law Corridor.
In the wake of the complaint, the Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse Zone 2, summoned the five social media users for attempted reputation damage of gospel singers Nathaniel Bassey, Mercy Chinwo and her husband, Blessed Uzochikwa.
Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna, in the court summons dated April 3, 2024, ordered the five defendants to appear in person before the court on April 23, 2023, to answer the charges levelled against the complainants.
The complainants in the matter are Blessed Uzochikwa and Mercy Chinwo while the five defendants are Okoronkwo Ejike, Kingsley Ibeh, DJ Spoiltkid, Terrence Ekot, and Samuel Agozie.
The suit originated from posts by the defendants last week after the gospel singer and her husband posted a picture of their son on Instagram.
After the picture of the baby, who was born in 2023, was posted, the defendants alleged that there was a resemblance between the baby and another gospel singer, Nathaniel Bassey, and claimed that he was the father, an allegation that went viral.
In a criminal complaint filed by the complainants’ lawyers, Mercy Chinwo and her husband said the alleged actions of the defendants amounted to cyber intimidation, injurious falsehood, and cyberstalking targeted at their persons.
The complainants said the alleged actions of the defendants are contrary to Sections 391 of the Penal Code and Section 24 (1)(B) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015.
The “individuals criminally injured the reputation and image of the complainants across the globe resulting from their intentional defamatory posts and an act of cyberstalking,” the lawyers said in a criminal complaint filed before the magistrate.
Earlier, Gospel minister, Nathaniel Bassey, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to investigate and prosecute four persons who he accused of criminal defamation and cyberstalking.
The singer submitted the petition to the IGP on April 1, 2024, through his lawyers, Peter Abraham, Uche Matthew, Gbenga Agunloye, and Anthony Abia. The petition was exclusively sighted by Channels Television on Wednesday.
Bassey, popularly known as “Pastor Nath” is the convener of online interdenominational worship programme, Hallelujah Challenge. He also pastors a parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
Last week, four social media users alleged that Bassey fathered the son of fellow popular gospel singer, an allegation that went viral on X.
The lawyers, therefore, urged the police authorities to urgently treat the petition against the four social media users, identified in the petition as Okoronkwo Ejike, Kingsley Ibeh, Terrence Ekot and Dj Spoiltkid.
“Our client is a gospel music minister whose songs and ministrations have impacted the lives of so many from different walks of life across the globe,” the petition partly read.
“On Friday, the 29th day of March 2024, Mercy Chinwo Blessed another popular gospel music minister, and her husband posted pictures of their son and themselves on different social media platforms.
“However, our client was disheartened, saddened, and grossly disturbed to find that the above-mentioned suspects, as mischief makers with a criminal intent to destroy the image and character of our client, had made different social media posts of defamatory matter, calling our client ‘the father of minister Mercy Chinwo Blessed’s son,’ a woman who is married to another man.
“The post by Mr. Okoronkwo Ejike has since gone viral on the platform. In reaction to the post, Mr. Kingsley Ibeh commented on Mr. Okoronkwo’s post with a picture of our client with the caption “The real father of the baby.”
“In a post on the platform “X” formerly known as Twitter, “Dj SpoiltKid” a verified X user, quoted the statement by Okoronkwo Ejike along with a screenshot of the post and added, “When are we doing DNA test?”
“In another post, Mr. Terrence Ekot, on the platform “X” made a post thus: “Take a look at the stunning resemblance of mercy chinwo’s son and Nathaniel Bassey. Though duo has been working together on several projects in the past..what do you have to say?” (sic)
The lawyers said the social media posts by the four individuals amounted to complete assassination of Bassey’s character.
“These nefarious acts of these suspects, if not immediately dealt with, will continue to destroy our client’s image, injure his reputation, assassinate his character, and cast aspersion on the good name built by our client over the years.
The lawyers said the alleged actions of the four individuals contravened Sections 373 and 375 of the Criminal Code Act as well as Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.).
“The consequences of making such statements on social media have been known to tarnish the reputations of individuals, render marriages unstable, and many never recover from them. International reputation is an asset—both for the individual and for the nation—and it takes time to acquire.
“Consequently, we urge you to use your good offices to, in the interest of justice, investigate this matter, arrest, and bring the suspect to justice, which will serve as a deterrent to others.”
When contacted, Police Spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, said, “I will find out”. Also, calls to Mercy Chinwo’s lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, rang out.
The Nation/Channels TV
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