Renowned gospel minister Nathaniel Bassey has taken legal action against four individuals whom he accuses of criminal defamation and cyberstalking.

Bassey, through his legal representatives, submitted a petition to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, urging for an investigation and prosecution of the offenders.

The petition, filed on April 1, 2024, highlights an incident where social media users falsely alleged that Bassey fathered the child of fellow gospel singer Mercy Chinwo Blessed, which quickly spread across various online platforms.

According to Bassey’s lawyers—Peter Abraham, Uche Matthew, Gbenga Agunloye, and Anthony Abia—the accused individuals, identified as Okoronkwo Ejike, Kingsley Ibeh, Terrence Ekot, and Dj Spoiltkid, maliciously circulated defamatory content aimed at tarnishing Bassey’s reputation.

The petition outlines how the false allegations, particularly a viral post by Okoronkwo Ejike, were amplified and shared on social media platforms, including X (formerly known as Twitter). The lawyers assert that these actions amount to character assassination and violate criminal laws related to defamation and cybercrimes.

“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,” the petition partly read.

“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 post by Mr. Okoronkwo Ejike has since gone viral on the platform. In reaction to the post, Mr. Kingsley Ibeh commented on Mr. Okoronkwo’s post with a picture of our client with the caption “The real father of the baby.”

“In a post on the platform “X” formerly known as Twitter, “Dj SpoiltKid” a verified X user, quoted the statement by Okoronkwo Ejike along with a screenshot of the post and added, “When are we doing DNA test?”

“In another post, Mr. Terrence Ekot, on the platform “X” made a post thus: “Take a look at the stunning resemblance of mercy chinwo’s son and Nathaniel Bassey. Though duo has been working together on several projects in the past..what do you have to say?” (sic)

In their statement, the legal team emphasized the grave repercussions of such baseless accusations, which not only damage Bassey’s reputation but also have the potential to destabilize marriages and cause irreparable harm to individuals’ livelihoods and well-being.

The lawyers called upon the Inspector General of Police to swiftly investigate the matter, apprehend the suspects, and ensure that justice is served.

“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 lawyers said the alleged actions of the four individuals contravened Sections 373 and 375 of the Criminal Code Act as well as Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.).

“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.

“Consequently, we urge you to use your good offices to, in the interest of justice, investigate this matter, arrest, and bring the suspect to justice, which will serve as a deterrent to others.”

When contacted for a response, Police Spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi promised to look into the matter, while attempts to reach Mercy Chinwo’s lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, were unsuccessful.

This legal action by Nathaniel Bassey underscores the growing concerns over the proliferation of misinformation and cyberbullying on social media platforms, highlighting the need for robust enforcement of laws to protect individuals’ reputations and prevent the spread of false information.