The Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse Zone 2, has summoned five social media users for “criminal defamation” of the reputations of gospel singer Mercy Chinwo and her husband, Blessed Uzochikwa.
In a court summons dated April 3, 2024, Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna directed the five defendants to personally appear before the court on April 23, 2023, to respond to the accusations made against the complainants.
Blessed Uzochikwa and Mercy Chinwo are the complainants in this case, and Okoronkwo Ejike, Kingsley Ibeh, DJ Spoiltkid, Terrence Ekot, and Samuel Agozie are the five defendants.
The gospel singer and her husband uploaded a photo of their son to Instagram last week, which sparked the lawsuit based on statements made by the defendants.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.
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In a criminal complaint filed by the complainants’ lawyers led by Pelumi Olajengbesi of Abuja-based media firm, Law Corridor, 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 defendants’ alleged actions 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,” the lawyers said in a criminal complaint filed before the magistrate.
Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna thereafter directed the five defendants to appear before the court on April 23, 2024, to answer the charges.
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Bassey has also taken action over the matter. The ‘Jesus Iye’ crooner — through his lawyers — had petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, to investigate and prosecute four persons whom he accused of criminal defamation and cyberstalking. The four social media users in Bassey’s petition are Okoronkwo Ejike, Kingsley Ibeh, Terrence Ekot and Dj Spoiltkid.
Bassey’s 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.”
