The Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse Zone 2, has subpoenaed five social media users for “criminal defamation” of the reputation of Mercy Chinwo, a popular Nigerian gospel singer, and her husband, Blessed Uzochikwa.
In the court summons dated April 3, 2024, and posted online by Channels Television, Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna has ordered the five defendants to appear in person before the court on April 23, 2023, to answer the charges levelled against the complainants.
The complainants in the matter are: Blessed Uzochikwa and Mercy Chinwo while the five defendants included; Okoronkwo Ejike, Kingsley Ibeh, DJ Spoiltkid, Terrence Ekot, and Samuel Agozie.
The suit had sprung up from posts made by the defendants last week after the gospel singer and her husband posted a picture of their one year old son on Instagram. After the picture of the baby was posted, the defendants made allegations that there was a striking resemblance between the baby and another gospel singer, Nathaniel Bassey, and had made claims that he was the father. This rumour had gone viral.
In a criminal complaint filed by the complainants’ lawyers led by Pelumi Olajengbesi of Abuja-based law firm, Law Corridor, Mercy Chinwo and her husband had remarked that the alleged actions of the defendants equalled cyber intimidation, and was an injurious falsehood, targeted at their persons.
The complainants additionally said that the alleged actions of the defendants were contrary to Sections 391 of the Penal Code and Section 24 (1)(B) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015.
The complainants lawyers had said in a criminal complaint filed before the magistrate:
“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,”
Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna had after the summons, directed the five defendants to appear before the court on April 23, 2024, to answer to the charges.
