Popular Nigerian gospel singer Mercy Chinwo and her husband, Pastor Blessed Uzochikwa, have filed a direct criminal complaint against five people for criminal defamation through their lawyers, led by Pelumi Olajengbesi, Esq.
Following their suit, a Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, summoned five social media users on Thursday for “criminal defamation” of the reputation of the gospel singer and her husband.
According to the couple, the alleged acts of criminal defamation amounted to the deliberate circulation of injurious falsehoods, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking.
Their lawyers, in the suit, further alleged that the 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.
“Individuals criminally injured the reputation and image of the complainants across the globe resulting from their intentional defamatory posts and an act of cyberstalking,” their lawyers stated.
Responding to their complaint in a court summons dated April 3, 2024, Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna ordered the five defendants to appear in person before the court on April 23, 2023, to answer the charges levelled against them.
News About Nigeria reports that the suit follows posts made by the defendants last week alleging that Mercy Chinwo’s husband is not the father of her child after the couple posted pictures of their son, who was born in 2023, on Instagram.
The social media users, who included Okoronkwo Ejike, Kingsley Ibeh, DJ Spoiltkid, Terrence Ekot, and Samuel Agozie, had alleged that popular gospel singer and pastor Nathaniel Bassey was the father of the child.
Recall that in a similar development, Nathaniel Bassey petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to investigate and prosecute four individuals who falsely accused him of being the father of Mercy Chinwo’s child.
The four social media users identified by Bassey’s lawyers for the defamation of his character are Okoronkwo Ejike, Kingsley Ibeh, Terrence Ekot, and Dj Spoiltkid.
