Gospel singer Nathaniel Bassey has petitioned the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun to investigate and prosecute four persons for alleged criminal defamation, cyberstalking and paternity claims against him.
The singer filed the petition through his lawyers, Peter Abraham, Uche Matthew, Gbenga Agunloye, and Anthony Abia, on Monday, April 1, 2024.
The complaint stems from allegations circulating on social media that falsely claim Nathaniel Bassey fathered the child of a fellow gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.
Nathaniel’s lawyers urged the police to treat the petition against the four social media users, identified in the petition as Okoronkwo Ejike, Kingsley Ibeh, Terrence Ekot and Dj Spoiltkid with all sense of urgency.
The petition read in parts: “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 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?”