Summons to Court Five People Regarding Mercy Chinwo’s Defamation
The complainants claimed that the defendants’ purported conduct violated Sections 24 (1)(B) of the Cybercrimes (prohibition, prevention, etc.) Act 2015 and Section 391 of the Penal Code.
Five social media users have been summoned by the Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse Zone 2, for “criminal defamation” of the reputations of gospel singer Mercy Chinwo and her husband, Blessed Uzochikwa.
Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna directed the five defendants to appear in person before the court on April 23, 2023, to respond to the accusations brought against the complainants, as per the court summons dated April 3, 2024 that Channels Television was able to view.
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. The defendants claimed that they were the baby’s father and that the child resembled another gospel musician, Nathaniel Bassey, after the baby’s 2023 birth photo was shared online. This claim quickly gained traction.
Mercy Chinwo and her husband filed a criminal complaint, claiming that the defendants had engaged in cyberstalking, injurious untruth, and intimidation directed at them, under the direction of Pelumi Olajengbesi of the Abuja-based legal firm Law Corridor.
The complainants claimed that the defendants’ purported conduct violated Sections 24 (1)(B) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act 2015 and Section 391 of the Penal Code.
In a criminal complaint submitted to the magistrate, the attorneys claimed that the “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 five defendants were then ordered by Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna to come before the court on April 23, 2024, to respond to the charges.
Petitioners Nathaniel Bassey IGP
Bassey has addressed the issue and taken action as well. The “Jesus Iye” crooner had asked Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, through his solicitors, to look into and bring charges against four people he suspected of criminal defamation and cyberstalking. The four social media users who have signed Bassey’s petition are Dj Spoiltkid, Terrence Ekot, Kingsley Ibeh, and Okoronkwo Ejike.
According to Bassey’s solicitors, the four people’s alleged activities violated Sections 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) and Sections 373 and 375 of the Criminal Code Act.
Making such comments on social media has been known to have negative effects on people’s reputations, make relationships unstable, and many people never fully recover from them. 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.”
Hallelujah Challenge is an online interdenominational worship project that is led by Bassey, also referred to as “Pastor Nath.” In addition, he serves as the pastor of a Redeemed Christian Church of God congregation (RCCG).