Nathaniel Bassey Slams Defamatory Paternity Claims, Petitions IGP Over ‘Criminal Defamation’

• Gospel Singer Refutes Allegations of Fathering Mercy Chinwo’s Son

• Demands Investigation and Prosecution of Four Social Media Users

• Lawyers Cite Criminal Defamation, Cyberstalking, and Character Assassination

Eko Hot Blog reports that Nigerian gospel singer Nathaniel Bassey has taken decisive action against the purported claim of fathering the son of his colleague, Mercy Chinwo. Expressing his displeasure over the defamatory allegations, Bassey has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to investigate and prosecute four individuals accused of criminal defamation and cyberstalking.

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The petition, submitted on April 1, 2024, through Bassey’s legal team comprising Peter Abraham, Uche Matthew, Gbenga Agunloye, and Anthony Abia, urges the police authorities to urgently address the matter against the four social media users identified as Okoronkwo Ejike, Kingsley Ibeh, Terrence Ekot, and Dj Spoiltkid.

The lawyers assert that the individuals’ social media posts amount to a complete assassination of Bassey’s character, contravening Sections 373 and 375 of the Criminal Code Act, as well as Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.).

The petition partly read, _”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.”_

“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 further stated, “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.”

“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.”

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Bassey’s legal team has urged the IGP to investigate the matter, arrest, and bring the suspects to justice, emphasizing that such actions will serve as a deterrent to others engaged in similar defamatory practices.

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