Pastor Blessed Uzochikwa, the husband of well-known singer Mercy Chinwo, has filed a direct criminal complaint for criminal defamation against five people through his attorneys, who are led by Pelumi Olajengbesi Esq.
As a result, five social media users have been called by a Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, for the “criminal defamation” of gospel singer Mercy Chinwo and her husband, Blessed Uzochikwa.
According to Mercy Chinwo’s spouse, intentional dissemination of harmful false information, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking were used in the alleged criminal defamation offenses.
The court date for the five defendants—Okoronkwo Ejike, Kingsley Ibeh, DJ Spoiltkid, Terrence Ekot, and Samuel Agozie—is April 23, 2024.
Prominent gospel artist Nathaniel Bassey had asked Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun to look into and bring charges against some people who had made up the story that he was Mercy Chinwo’s father.
On April 1, 2024, the ace trumpeter’s attorneys filed the suit, claiming that four social media users—Okoronkwo Ejike, Kingsley Ibeh, Terrence Ekot, and Dj Spoiltkid—had engaged in criminal defamation and cyberstalking against Bassey.
The four social media users claimed last week on the X platform (previously Twitter) that Bassey is the father of Mercy Chinwo’s kid because the singer’s newborn son resembles him.
Bassey’s attorneys emphasized the seriousness of the implication, claiming that such unfounded charges have wider ramifications on both a personal and professional level in addition to damaging his reputation.
Renowned music pastor Nathaniel Bassey is married to Sarah, whom he met while on a mission trip in Eket, Akwa Ibom State. The couple has a flourishing ministry.
“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 from Nathaniel Bassey’s attorneys states.
Mercy Chinwo Blessed, a well-known gospel music pastor, and her spouse shared images of themselves and their son on various social media platforms on Friday, March 29, 2024.
However, our client was extremely disturbed, disheartened, and saddened to learn that the aforementioned suspects, acting as pranksters with the unlawful intent to damage our client’s reputation, had made a number of defamatory posts on social media, referring to our client as “the father of minister Mercy Chinwo Blessed’s son,” a woman who is not married.
Since then, Mr. Okoronkwo Ejike’s article has been very popular on the platform. Mr. Kingsley Ibeh posted a picture of our client with the message, “The real father of the baby,” in response to Mr. Okoronkwo’s post.
“Dj SpoiltKid,” a verified X user, posted a screenshot of the statement by Okoronkwo Ejike along with the comment, “When are we doing a DNA test?” on the site “X,” which was once known as Twitter.
“Mr. Terrence Ekot posted another message on the “X” platform, saying, ‘Look at the amazing likeness between Mercy Chinwo’s son and Nathaniel Bassey. Despite the fact that the two have previously collaborated on a number of projects, what do you have to say?”
The attorneys claimed that in addition to violating Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, the acts also breached Sections 373 and 375 of the Criminal Code Act. They contended that the four people’s social media posts amounted to character assassination.
“The consequences of making such statements on social media have been known to tarnish individuals’ reputations, render marriages unstable, and many never recover from them,” the petition continued. Gaining an international reputation takes time and is beneficial to the country as well as the individual.
“Therefore, in the interest of justice, we implore you to use your good offices to look into this matter, apprehend, and prosecute the suspect, which will serve as a deterrent to others.”