An Abuja Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6 has summoned five individuals for alleged defamation of gospel singer Mercy Chinwo. Okoronkwo Ejike, Kingsley Ibeh, DJ Spoiltkid, Terrence Ekot, and Samuel Agozie are to appear in court on April 23 for claiming that popular gospel singer Nathaniel Bassey is the father of Mercy’s son.
Pastor Blessed Uzochikwa, Mercy’s husband, filed a direct criminal complaint against the five individuals for criminal defamation. Uzochikwa’s lawyers, led by Pelumi Olajengbesi Esq, accused the defendants of deliberately circulating injurious falsehood, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking.
The defendants made these allegations when Mercy and her husband posted pictures of their son on different social media platforms on March 29. They claimed that the Uzochikwas’ son looked exactly like Nathaniel Bassey, insinuating that he might be the real father of the child. These posts caused a stir on social media, with many calling out Bassey and accusing him of paternity fraud.
Bassey, who has worked on several music collaborations with Chinwo, also petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over the allegations. His lawyers filed a petition asking the police to investigate and prosecute the social media users who accused him of alleged paternity fraud. They claimed that the social media posts amounted to character assassination.
Story by Obaapa Janee
