NEWS: GOSPEL SINGER, NATHANIEL BASSEY PETITIONS IGP OVER DEFAMATION, CYBERSTALKING
Nathaniel Bassey, a gospel preacher, has petitioned Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police, to look into and bring charges against four people he believes are guilty of criminal defamation and cyberstalking.
On April 1, 2024, the artist filed the petition with the IGP via the attorneys Peter Abraham, Uche Matthew, Gbenga Agunloye, and Anthony Abia.
Four social media users claimed last week that Bassey was the father of a popular gospel singer’s son; the claim went viral on X.
As a result, the attorneys implored the police to look into the petition against the four social media usersāOkoronkwo Ejike, Kingsley Ibeh, Terrence Ekot, and Dj Spoiltkidāas soon as possible.
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āOur 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,ā the petition partly read.
āOn 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.
āHowever, 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 āthe father of minister Mercy Chinwo Blessedās son,ā a woman who is married to another man.
āThe post by Mr. Okoronkwo Ejike has since gone viral on the platform. In reaction to the post, Mr. Kingsley Ibeh commented on Mr. Okoronkwoās post with a picture of our client with the caption āThe real father of the baby.ā
āIn a post on the platform āXā formerly known as Twitter, āDj SpoiltKidā a verified X user, quoted the statement by Okoronkwo Ejike along with a screenshot of the post and added, āWhen are we doing DNA test?ā
āIn another post, Mr. Terrence Ekot, on the platform āXā made a post thus: āTake a look at the stunning resemblance of mercy chinwoās son and Nathaniel Bassey. Though duo has been working together on several projects in the past..what do you have to say?ā (sic)
The lawyers said the social media posts by the four individuals amounted to complete assassination of Basseyās character.
āThese nefarious acts of these suspects, if not immediately dealt with, will continue to destroy our clientās 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.).
āThe 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 assetāboth for the individual and for the nationāand it takes time to acquire.
āConsequently, 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.ā
Efforts to reach the Police Spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, for comments were not successful as of press time. Also, calls to Mercy Chinwoās lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, rang out.