An Abuja Chief Magistrate Court has issued an arrest warrant for social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), following allegations of criminal defamation.
The case was filed by renowned gospel singer Mercy Chinwo, who accused VDM of making defamatory statements about her on social media. VDM had alleged that Chinwo was involved in a $345,000 financial dispute with her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu (Eezee Tee).
However, Chinwo denied the allegations and presented documentary evidence, including emails and payment receipts, to clear her name. She argued that the false claims had damaged her public image and reputation.
In response, Magistrate Emmanuel Iyana ordered law enforcement agencies to arrest and present VDM in court after he failed to appear for a hearing on March 5 despite being summoned.
VDM’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, pleaded for more time to bring his client voluntarily, but the court refused to lift the arrest warrant.
Additionally, Mercy Chinwo has filed a ₦1.1 billion lawsuit against VDM at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, demanding that he retract his statements, delete the posts, and issue a public apology.
Chinwo’s legal team, led by Pelumi Olajengbesi, insists that VDM’s actions violate Sections 391 of the Penal Code and Section 24 (1)(B) of the Cybercrime Act 2015.
