By Milcah Tanimu
Renowned gospel singer Nathaniel Bassey has taken legal action against four individuals whom he accuses of falsely implicating him in paternity allegations involving fellow gospel artist Mercy Chinwo’s child. Bassey’s legal representatives submitted a petition to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, urging an investigation and prosecution of the accused for criminal defamation and cyberstalking.
The petition, dated April 1, 2024, identifies the individuals as Okoronkwo Ejike, Kingsley Ibeh, Terrence Ekot, and DJ Spoiltkid. They allegedly propagated baseless claims suggesting Bassey fathered Mercy Chinwo’s child, which gained traction on social media platforms.
Bassey’s legal team emphasized the severe repercussions of such false accusations, highlighting the damage inflicted on Bassey’s reputation and personal well-being. They cited instances of social media posts by the accused, including Okoronkwo Ejike’s viral statement and subsequent comments by Kingsley Ibeh and DJ Spoiltkid, insinuating Bassey’s involvement in the paternity issue.
The lawyers argue that these actions constitute character assassination and violate relevant sections of the Criminal Code Act and the Cybercrimes Act. They underscore the detrimental impact of such defamatory statements on individuals’ reputations and personal lives, urging law enforcement to investigate the matter thoroughly and bring the suspects to justice.
The petition concludes by urging the Inspector-General of Police to take appropriate action to address the injustice perpetrated against Nathaniel Bassey and to serve as a deterrent to others engaging in similar acts of defamation and cyberstalking.
