A Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of controversial blogger Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), over a criminal defamation case filed against him by gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Delivering the ruling on Thursday, Magistrate Emmanuel Iyana directed the Nigeria Police Force and other law enforcement agencies to arrest and produce VDM before the court after he failed to honor a court summons dated March 5.
VDM’s Failure to Appear in Court
The arrest warrant was issued following VDM’s non-compliance with a court order to appear for proceedings related to the defamation lawsuit. His counsel, Deji Adeyanju, pleaded with the court, requesting more time to present his client personally at the next hearing. However, Magistrate Iyana declined to vacate the arrest order, emphasizing the blogger’s disregard for legal summons.
Legal Battle Between Mercy Chinwo and VeryDarkMan
Chinwo accused VDM of making defamatory statements on social media, alleging that she diverted $345,000 in a contractual dispute with her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu (Eezee Tee).
The singer’s legal team, led by Pelumi Olajengbesi, presented documentary evidence—including emails and payment receipts— to dispute the blogger’s claims and protect her reputation.
The prosecution insists that VDM’s statements violated Section 391 of the Penal Code and Section 24(1)(B) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, making him liable for criminal defamation.
N1.1 Billion Lawsuit Against VDM
In a separate legal move, Mercy Chinwo’s legal team has also filed a N1.1 billion lawsuit against VDM at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, seeking:
- A public apology
- A retraction of the defamatory statements
- The deletion of the said statements from all platforms
Next Steps in the Case
As the legal battle intensifies, law enforcement agencies are expected to act on the arrest warrant to ensure VDM’s appearance in court. The case has drawn significant attention, highlighting the growing scrutiny on online content creators and the legal implications of social media defamation.
