Court Summons Social Media Users Following Mercy Chinwo Son’s Paternity Claims

A Magistrate Court in Abuja summons five social media users for "criminal defamation" of the reputation of gospel singer Mercy Chinwo and her husband, Pastor Blessed Uzochikwa. 

Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna, issued the court summons on April 3, 2024, ordering the five defendants to appear in person before the court on April 23, 2023, to face the allegations against them. 

The complainants in this case are Mercy and Blessed, and the five defendants are Okoronkwo Ejike, Kingsley Ibeh, DJ Spoiltkid, Terrence Ekot, and Samuel Agozie. 

The suit stemmed from a paternity claim made by the defendants last week after the gospel singer and her husband posted a picture of their son on Instagram. 

After photos of the baby, who was born in 2023, were uploaded on Instagram, the defendants alleged that there was a resemblance between the baby and another gospel singer, Nathaniel Bassey, and claimed that he is the father, an allegation that went viral. 

Mercy Chinwo and her husband filed a criminal complaint against the defendants, led by Pelumi Olajengbesi of Abuja-based media firm Law Corridor, alleging cyber intimidation, injurious lying, and cyberstalking directed at their persons. 

The complainants claimed the defendants' alleged conduct violated Sections 391 of the Penal Code and Section 24 (1)(B) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015. 

Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna then directed the five defendants to appear in court on April 23, 2024, to answer the allegations. 

This comes after Nathaniel Bassey asked the police to investigate and prosecute those who claimed he fathered Mercy Chinwo's son.