Pastor Blessed Uzochikwa, the husband of gospel singer, Mercy Chinwo has taken legal action over the paternity of his 5-month-old son, Charis Nduka Blessed.
According to reports, a Magistrate Court in Abuja has summoned five people for criminal defamation of the reputations of Mercy Chinwo and pastor Blessed.
Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna has mandated the five defendants to appear in court in person on April 23, 2023, to address the allegations against them. This directive was issued through a court summons dated April 3, 2024.
The five persons summoned include; Okoronkwo Ejike, Kingsley Ibeh, DJ Spoiltkid, Terrence Ekot, and Samuel Agozie.
The lawsuit comes following the paternity claims made by the defendants on social media on 30th & 31st March shortly after Mercy Chinwo and her husband shared pictures of their son.
The defendants claimed that the child has a striking resemblance with sensational gospel singer, Nathaniel Bassey, a senior colleague to Mercy Chinwo and urged Pastor Blessed to run a DNA test on the child.
According to a criminal complaint submitted by the complainants’ attorneys, Pelumi Olajengbesi of Abuja-based media firm Law Corridor, the defendants’ alleged activities amounted to cyberstalking, harmful falsehoods, and cyber intimidation directed at Mercy Chinwo and her spouse.
The complainants claimed that the defendants’ purported conduct violated Sections 24 (1)(B) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 and Section 391 of the Penal Code.
It is worth noting that Nathaniel Bassey himself has also petitioned the Inspector General of Police, (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun over defamation on social media. Read here