Elizabeth O.
Gospel singer Mercy Chinwo and her husband, Blessed Uzochikwa, have initiated legal proceedings against five individuals, as a Chief Magistrate Court in Abuja has summoned them to respond to charges of “criminally defmating” the couple.
The court summons, dated April 3, 2024, was issued by Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna, instructing the defendants to appear in person before the court on April 23, 2024.
The complainants in this case are Blessed Uzochikwa and Mercy Chinwo, while the defendants named are Okoronkwo Ejike, Kingsley Ibeh, DJ Spoiltkid, Terrence Ekot, and Samuel Agozie.
The legal action stems from social media posts made by the defendants last week, following the gospel singer and her husband sharing a picture of their son on Instagram.
The defendants alleged that the baby, born in 2023, bore a resemblance to another gospel singer, Nathaniel Bassey, and claimed that he was the father. These allegations quickly went viral.
The complainants, represented by a team of lawyers led by Pelumi Olajengbesi from the Abuja-based law firm Law Corridor, filed a criminal complaint asserting that the defendants’ actions constituted cyber intimidation, injurious falsehood, and cyberstalking specifically directed at them.
According to the complainants, the actions of the defendants are in violation of Sections 391 of the Penal Code and Section 24 (1)(B) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act of 2015.
It is noteworthy that Nathaniel Bassey, one of the individuals accused of being the baby’s father, submitted a petition to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, urging an investigation and prosecution of Okoronkwo Ejike, Kingsley Ibeh, Terrence Ekot, and DJ Spoiltkid for criminal defamation and cyberstalking.
This petition was lodged the day before the legal action by Mercy Chinwo and her husband.
