Famous Nigerian Gospel minister Nathaniel Bassey, is requesting the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, to take legal disciplinary measures against four suspects who he accused of making defamatory remarks against him.
According to the singer who through his lawyers Peter Abraham, Uche Matthew, Gbenga Agunloye and Anthony Abia, tendered his petition to the IGP on April 1, 2024, the four accused persons had recently alleged on X that he (Bassey) fathered the son of fellow popular gospel singer Mercy Chinwo who is also married to another man.
The suspects had reportedly made allegations against the minister after a picture of Mercy Chinwo, her husband and infant child surfaced online.
The allegations which Basseey’s lawyers have described as injurious to his character reportedly went viral, causing the Gospel minister to trend on popular social media platform X and becoming a subject of discourse across the media.
In his petition, Nathaniel Bassey through his lawyers is demanding a holistic Investigation and commensurate punishment for the accused social media users identified as Okoronkwo Ejike, Kingsley Ibeh, Terrence Ekot and Dj Spoiltkid on grounds of criminal defamation and cyberstalking.The petition read in part:
“Our client is a gospel music minister whose songs and ministrations have impacted the lives of so many from different walks of life across the globe,” the petition partly read.
“On Friday, the 29th day of March 2024, Mercy Chinwo Blessed another popular gospel music minister, and her husband posted pictures of their son and themselves on different social media platforms.
“However, our client was disheartened, saddened, and grossly disturbed to find that the above-mentioned suspects, as mischief makers with a criminal intent to destroy the image and character of our client, had made different social media posts of defamatory matter, calling our client ‘the father of minister Mercy Chinwo Blessed’s son,’ a woman who is married to another man.
“The post by Mr. Okoronkwo Ejike has since gone viral on the platform. In reaction to the post, Mr. Kingsley Ibeh commented on Mr. Okoronkwo’s post with a picture of our client with the caption “The real father of the baby.”
“In a post on the platform “X” formerly known as Twitter, “Dj SpoiltKid” a verified X user, quoted the statement by Okoronkwo Ejike along with a screenshot of the post and added, “When are we doing DNA test?”
“In another post, Mr. Terrence Ekot, on the platform “X” made a post thus: “Take a look at the stunning resemblance of mercy chinwo’s son and Nathaniel Bassey. Though duo has been working together on several projects in the past..what do you have to say?” (sic)
“These nefarious acts of these suspects, if not immediately dealt with, will continue to destroy our client’s image, injure his reputation, assassinate his character, and cast aspersion on the good name built by our client over the years.”
According to Basseey’s lawyers, the alleged actions of the four individuals contravened Sections 373 and 375 of the Criminal Code Act as well as Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.).
“The consequences of making such statements on social media have been known to tarnish the reputations of individuals, render marriages unstable, and many never recover from them. International reputation is an asset—both for the individual and for the nation—and it takes time to acquire.
“Consequently, we urge you to use your good offices to, in the interest of justice, investigate this matter, arrest, and bring the suspect to justice, which will serve as a deterrent to others.”
