The Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja has summoned five social media users for defaming the reputation of popular gospel singer, Mercy Chinwo, and her husband, Blessed Uzochikwa.

In the court summons dated April 3, 2024, Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna ordered the five defendants to appear in person before the court on April 23, 2023.

The five defendants are Okoronkwo Ejike, Kingsley Ibeh, DJ Spoiltkid, Terrence Ekot, and Samuel Agozie.

They are to answer the charges levelled against the complainants – Mercy Chinwo and Blessed Uzochikwa.

The suit was hinged on social media posts where the defendants had alleged that there was a resemblance in Mercy Chinwo’s son born in 2023 and another gospel singer, Nathaniel Bassey.

Nathaniel Bassey petitions IGP over Mercy Chinwo’s son paternity

The social media users claimed that Bassey was the father of Chinwo’s son. The allegation has gone viral since the picture was posted on the social media.

In a criminal complaint filed by the complainants’ lawyers led by Pelumi Olajengbesi, Mercy Chinwo and her husband said the actions of the defendants amounted to cyber intimidation, injurious falsehood, and cyberstalking targeted at their persons.

The complainants said the actions of the defendants are contrary to Sections 391 of the Penal Code and Section 24 (1)(B) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015.

According to the lawyers, “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.”

Also, Bassey had petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, seeking prosecution of the four social media users.