Gospel minister Nathaniel Bassey has lodged a petition with the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, regarding allegations that he fathered Mercy Chinwo’s son.
Bassey called on the IGP to investigate and prosecute four individuals for criminal defamation and cyberstalking.
The petition was submitted on April 1, 2024, through Bassey’s legal representatives, Peter Abraham, Uche Matthew, Gbenga Agunloye, and Anthony Abia.
Last week, four social media users propagated allegations that Bassey fathered the child of gospel singer Mercy Chinwo, which went viral.
In the petition, Bassey’s lawyers identified the suspects as Okoronkwo Ejike, Kingsley Ibeh, Terrence Ekot, and Dj Spoiltkid, urging urgent action from the police authorities.
The petition stated: “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. 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 lawyers highlighted specific social media posts made by the suspects, which they deemed defamatory and damaging to Bassey’s reputation.
The lawyers argued that the actions of the suspects constituted criminal offenses under relevant sections of the Criminal Code Act and the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act.
They emphasized the potential consequences of such false statements on social media and urged the IGP to investigate the matter promptly, apprehend the suspects, and bring them to justice as a deterrent to others.
