By Milcah Tanimu
A Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, has summoned five social media users for “criminal defamation” of the reputation of gospel singer Mercy Chinwo and her husband, Blessed Uzochikwa.
The court summons, dated April 3, 2024, was issued by Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna, ordering the defendants – Okoronkwo Ejike, Kingsley Ibeh, DJ Spoiltkid, Terrence Ekot, and Samuel Agozie – to appear in person before the court on April 23, 2024.
The legal action follows a direct criminal complaint filed by Blessed Uzochikwa through his lawyers, led by Pelumi Olajengbesi, alleging defamation against the defendants.
In the complaint, Uzochikwa detailed how, on March 29, 2024, he and his wife, Mercy Chinwo, shared a photo of their son on Facebook to celebrate their family’s joy. Subsequently, one of their followers alerted them to a post by the first defendant, alleging that the child resembled gospel artist Nathaniel Bassey, not Uzochikwa.
The complaint highlighted further defamatory comments by the defendants on various social media platforms, including Twitter (formerly known as “X”), insinuating that Nathaniel Bassey was the real father of the child.
Emphasizing that he is the child’s father, Uzochikwa refuted the false allegations made by the defendants, seeking legal redress for the damage to their reputation.
This legal action comes after Nathaniel Bassey previously petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, urging an investigation into the matter and prosecution of those responsible for the false accusations.
