COURT ISSUES ARREST WARRANT FOR VERYDARKMAN OVER MERCY CHINWO DEFAMATION CASE
An Abuja Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6 has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of controversial social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), over a criminal defamation case filed by gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.
In his ruling on Thursday, Magistrate Emmanuel Iyana directed the Nigeria Police Force and other law enforcement agencies to arrest VDM and present him before the court. The order followed the activist’s failure to honor a court summons dated March 5.
Despite pleas from his counsel, Deji Adeyanju, for additional time to personally produce his client, the magistrate stood firm, refusing to vacate the arrest warrant.
VDM is accused of making defamatory claims against Chinwo on social media, alleging that she was involved in a contractual dispute and had diverted $345,000 from her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu (Eezee Tee). Chinwo, however, dismissed the allegations as false and damaging to her reputation, backing her defense with documentary evidence, including emails and payment receipts.
Her legal team, led by Pelumi Olajengbesi, argued that VDM’s actions violated Section 391 of the Penal Code and Section 24(1)(B) of the Cybercrime Act 2015.
Beyond the criminal case, Chinwo has also filed a ₦1.1 billion lawsuit at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, demanding a retraction, a public apology, and the deletion of all defamatory statements made against her.
