An Abuja Chief Magistrate Court sitting at Wuse Zone 6 issued a bench warrant for the arrest of controversial social media activist Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), on Thursday.
This order follows a defamation lawsuit filed against him by renowned gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.
In his ruling, Magistrate Emmanuel Iyana directed the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant law enforcement agencies to arrest VDM and bring him before the court to respond to criminal defamation charges brought by Chinwo.
The court noted that the defendant had failed to comply with a summons issued on March 5, which instructed him to appear for proceedings.
Despite an emotional plea from the defendant’s lawyer, Mr. Deji Adeyanju, who appeared in court, Magistrate Iyana refused to vacate the arrest order. Adeyanju had requested the court’s permission to personally bring his client to the next hearing.
VDM is accused of making defamatory remarks about Chinwo on his social media platform. The alleged statements claimed that the singer was involved in a contract dispute over a supposed $345,000 misappropriation linked to her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu (Eezee Tee).
Chinwo, who argued that these allegations were baseless and damaging to her reputation, presented documentary evidence, including emails and payment receipts, to prove her innocence.
Chinwo’s legal team, led by Mr. Pelumi Olajengbesi, asserted that VDM’s actions violated Sections 391 of the Penal Code and Section 24(1)(B) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act of 2015.
It’s worth noting that Chinwo’s lawyers also filed a N1.1 billion lawsuit against VDM before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja.
They are seeking to compel the defendant to retract his statements, delete them, and issue a public apology for the defamatory remarks made against Chinwo and her brand.
