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Nigerian gospel singer Mercy Chinwo and her husband, Blessed Uzochikwa, have taken legal action against five social media users for criminal defamation.
The lawsuit follows false allegations spread by the defendants, claiming that gospel artist Nathaniel Bassey fathered Mercy Chinwo’s child, suggesting paternity fraud.
Mercy Chinwo and Blessed Uzochikwa filed the lawsuit after Nathaniel Bassey petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over claims of fathering Mercy’s six-month-old son.
The defendants – Okoronkwo Ejike, Kingsley Ibeh, DJ Spoiltkid, Terrence Ekot, and Samuel Agozie – alleged on social media that Nathaniel Bassey was the biological father of Mercy’s son, making these claims when Mercy and her husband unveiled their son’s identity on 29 March.
The lawsuit, filed by the complainants’ lawyers, led by Pelumi Olajengbesi of Abuja-based law firm Law Corridor, accuses the defendants of cyber intimidation, injurious falsehood, and cyberstalking.
The Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse Zone 2, has summoned the five defendants for defamation based on the complaints, with Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna directing them to appear in person before the court on 23rd April to address the charges brought against them by Mercy Chinwo and Blessed Uzochikwa.
The complainants argue that the defendants’ alleged actions contravene Sections 391 of the Penal Code and Section 24 (1)(B) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, stating that the defendants criminally injured their reputation and image across the globe through intentional defamatory posts and cyberstalking.
