Court Issues Criminal Summons on Five Persons For Defamation Of Mercy Chinwo As Pastor Blessed Takes Legal Action

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Court Issues Criminal Summons on Five Persons For Defamation Of Mercy Chinwo As Pastor Blessed Takes Legal Action

A Direct Criminal Complaint has been filed by Pastor Blessed Uzochikwa, the husband of Minister Mercy Chinwo against five individuals for Criminal Defamation, at the Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse Zone 2.

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

The complainants in the matter are Blessed Uzochikwa and Mercy Chinwo, while the five defendants are Okoronkwo Ejike, Kingsley Ibeh, DJ Spoiltkid, Terrence Ekot, and Samuel Agozie.

The suit stemmed from posts made by the defendants last week after the gospel singer and her husband posted pictures of their son on Instagram.

After the picture of the baby, who was born in 2023, was posted, the defendants alleged that there was a resemblance between the baby and another gospel singer, Nathaniel Bassey, and claimed that he was the father, an allegation that went viral.

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

“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 lawyers said in a criminal complaint filed before the magistrate.

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